#104
The person who had been so angry about Eunhong’s injury that his face turned pale was gone, and only an alpha remained who sucked until every last drop was drained. Eunhong, squeezed to his limit by him, burned with passion for a long while before falling asleep as if passing out. It wasn’t surprising given how long the day had been.
Jaeha looked down at the sleeping Eunhong and took out his phone. Manager Kim’s message was displayed on the glowing screen.
[I’m handling what you asked about, but there’s something I need to report, so I’m messaging you.]
It had been less than a few hours since he left the studio apartment and tasked her with tracking down the watches, but she had already found several of them. She explained that they had easily traced them since high-end watches with initials engraved on them had been sold at dirt-cheap prices.
[Please recover everything you find. Whether you have to repurchase them or whatever—pay whatever amount they ask. I don’t care.]
Jaeha’s eyes flashed fiercely in the darkness as he sent his reply. If it were up to him, he would have wanted to legally punish Woohyun regardless of Eunhong’s wishes. If Han Jung’s legal team got involved, it wouldn’t be difficult to ensure Woohyun received the maximum penalty for theft. They could make Woohyun’s life extremely difficult more easily than breaking a child’s wrist.
Jaeha could easily guess how difficult An Woohyun’s life had been, twisted by his heat trait and being an omega. In addition to that, Woohyun’s inferiority complex toward Eunhong due to differences in natural talent and innate charm had a strong presence, like foul-smelling sewage.
‘So the fixer has arrived. What are you planning to do, drag me to the police? Don’t think I’ll keep quiet and just take it. Lee Jaeha of Han Jung Group. Just imagine how much the media would pay if I started talking right now…’
‘Let’s end this quietly. I don’t want Eunhong to get hurt. Tell me how much you want.’
‘Look, there’s such an easy way out here. Ban Eunhong always makes things difficult, screws everything up, and then… shit, I have to go to the dentist now.’
‘…’
‘He’s always been like that, always. Two-faced bastard. Acts so nice but he’s really a greedy, perverted asshole.’
‘Do you really think that?’
As Jaeha was about to turn away after handing over the money, Woohyun’s muttering grated on his nerves. He found himself asking before he realized it. In response, he received a sneer.
‘I’ve heard that rich people have weird hobbies because their lives are boring, but I never thought I’d see it in person. Do you really like Eunhong, a beta, that much?’
‘…’
‘Tell me. I won’t spread rumors. Do you want Eunhong that badly?’
‘Don’t say his name.’
‘…What?’
‘I don’t want to hear it, so don’t say his name with your filthy mouth. Just like you stole the belongings of a kind person who still considered someone like you a friend, take your petty cash and get lost—that’s exactly your level. Shut your mouth, take the money, and disappear. What I want is for you to completely vanish from Eunhong’s life.’
An Woohyun’s twisted mindset appeared to border on obsession. Neither Woohyun himself nor Eunhong, who had lived with it, realized this. That filthy, murky emotion was neither friendship nor affection, but hatred—hatred for someone who possessed what he could not have.
Not realizing how twisted he was, this gloomy person called Eunhong two-faced. A weak piece of trash who only blamed others for his ruined life. It must have been easier that way. By cursing that Eunhong obtained everything easily, he could comfort himself by thinking he was pitiable, that it wasn’t his fault but the world’s unfairness.
If it weren’t for Eunhong still having feelings for such trash and considering him a friend, Jaeha would have gotten rid of him without hesitation. Even today, Eunhong’s gentle heart had been so deeply hurt that he had cried several times. He had cried so sorrowfully that the white skin around his eyes became raw.
Jaeha sent another message to Manager Kim.
[Collect all traces left from the transactions as evidence of theft, without missing anything.]
***
“Huh…”
That was Shim AD’s first word upon seeing Eunhong’s cast. Although he couldn’t be expected to look kindly upon a subordinate bringing such bad news first thing Monday morning, he didn’t particularly frown. He simply took Eunhong quietly to the company cafeteria.
Team members watching the two quietly stirred with murmurs. Just seeing the cast on Eunhong’s right hand was enough for them to guess what would happen next.
It was exactly two months since he had last sat alone with Shim AD in the cafeteria. Once during his manifestation, and now a second time because of the cast. Eunhong, not knowing where to put himself, kept moistening his dry lips.
“Is it a serious injury? Which finger?”
“No, it’s just my pinky finger.”
Seeing Eunhong shake his head, Shim AD asked further.
“So what I’m asking is, once it heals, will there be any problems with movement? Like before?”
“Yes. Fortunately, they said it was a clean break.”
Hmm. Shim AD silently drank his coffee for a while. He spun his rectangular cigarette pack and tapped it on the table.
“Can’t be helped. You’ll have to file for a leave of absence.”
“I’m sorry.”
Eunhong felt like a grave sinner and couldn’t lift his head. The short period of six weeks was awkward for arranging substitute staff, so the burden would fall directly on his team members. Shim AD stared at Eunhong’s bowed head for a while, then sighed with an “Ah, jeez.”
“You fought with Woohyun, didn’t you?”
“…How did you know?”
Eunhong’s eyes widened.
“I saw him in the elevator this morning. His face was swollen and bruised.”
“Ah… Was his face a mess?”
Shim AD frowned deeply with a sigh.
“Don’t even mention it. He was quite obviously letting everyone know it was you. He was talking loudly with a team member, and anyone could tell he was talking about you. And here you are, worrying about his face at a time like this.”
Eunhong slumped his shoulders with a resigned expression. Shim AD finished his remaining coffee in one gulp and crunched the ice noisily as if his throat was burning.
Filing for a leave of absence was simpler than expected. The HR team leader tried to subtly pressure Eunhong by saying they’d be seeing each other often, but even that was silenced when Shim AD barked at him.
As Eunhong was leaving the company with his simple belongings, Seo Heeseung, Yoo Junseok, and Gil Dong-wook insisted on following him out. When they tried to make him stay for lunch and he declined using his arm as an excuse, they said they at least wanted to see him off. They all offered to carry his bag, which wasn’t even heavy.
“I’ll take good care of Ban’s desk. I’ll clean it every day.”
“That’s right, team leader. They say you might as well rest when you’re already down. Don’t worry and get some rest.”
“How unusual for Heeseung not to complain. Didn’t you say you’d have no reason to come to work if Eunhong wasn’t here?”
Even as the three bickered while riding the elevator down together, Eunhong couldn’t join in their laughter with an easy heart. His facial muscles had stiffened with guilt. He fidgeted, looking down at his cast.
“Eunhong, let’s just think of it as getting rid of bad luck for the new year.”
As they were leaving the company building, Gil Dong-wook put his arm around Eunhong’s shoulders. It was uncharacteristically sincere from someone who usually spoke with a constant grumble.
“I’ll talk to the CEO of Pheromone Spiral too. I’ll tell him to postpone the schedule if possible. So cheer up…”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t be so formal. If you need anything, feel free to contact me. Understood?”
Gil Dong-wook’s gaze was so affectionate that he seemed like a different person. Seo Heeseung also opened her eyes wide as if surprised. Come to think of it, despite his constant grumbling and flirting, he had generally been good to Eunhong.
“Rest well without worrying. We’ll be fine.”
“Take care. Don’t forget me. Come have lunch with us if you get bored.”
The three followed him all the way to the main street, reluctant to part with Eunhong. When Seo Heeseung joked that the team would have no dreams or hope for six weeks and asked what she had to live for, Yoo Junseok retorted by asking how he would endure the two women in front of him without Ban’s team. By then, Eunhong had also relaxed enough to smile.
It felt like his hurt feelings over Woohyun were being diluted. He wondered if he had been the one attaching names to relationships and giving them unnecessary meaning.
Assuming Eunhong had come by subway, the three naturally turned toward the station. Just as he was about to tell them that wasn’t his direction, a large figure approached them from behind.
“Hup!”
Seo Heeseung was the first to notice. Lee Jaeha smiled gently as he took Eunhong’s bag from her. She handed it over without resistance to someone she didn’t even know. Seo Heeseung stared blankly at Jaeha with her mouth open, then gasped and fumbled to grab Eunhong’s clothing.
Hearing her call “Team leader, team leader,” Eunhong turned his head to find Jaeha smiling brightly and greeting them with smooth confidence.
“Hello. You must be Eunhong’s colleagues.”
The three awkwardly bowed their heads in response to his sudden appearance.
“H-hello.”
When Jaeha smiled, lifting the corners of his mouth, all three became awkwardly stiff. This was the typical reaction when people first saw Lee Jaeha in person. Eunhong also became flustered and stumbled.
“I told you to wait in the car.”
“I came out to buy coffee.”
It wasn’t a lie—he had a tan-colored carrier with two drinks in his hand. However, Jaeha was only smiling with his mouth. Because of the dark lenses of his sunglasses, his eyes weren’t visible, but Eunhong could tell just from his voice. Why was he in a bad mood again…?
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
