Chapter 136
“We were just having some trivial chit-chat. Or was it gossip?”
The actor who had first brought up sponsorship shrugged and asked a colleague sitting next to him.
“I’m not sure. It’s too common in this industry to call it gossip…”
“Common or not, talk about receiving sponsorship still seems like a different world to me.”
“Right. What if you get unlucky and rumors start spreading?”
Instead of rashly joining the conversation, Cheong-yeon quietly sat sipping his water while glancing around.
“Rumors always spread. If that stuff gets outside the broadcasting station as so-called tabloid material, then you’re really in trouble. Like they say, a long tail always gets stepped on. I’d be too worried even to consider it.”
“Seah, you’re friendly with entertainment reporters. You know so much, that’s why you’re more concerned.”
“I guess so. I should really cure this information-collecting disease of mine.”
Bae Seah, who was cast as the villain in the upcoming drama, grinned while resting her chin on the table.
She seemed to look in Cheong-yeon’s direction for a brief moment. Was it just his imagination?
Secretly startled, Cheong-yeon turned his head elsewhere and pretended not to notice. Thinking it might have been his mood playing tricks on him, he continued to listen to the ongoing conversation.
“I just live by the principle that it’s better not to know.”
“By the way, have you all heard? Our drama received additional investment, so the production budget has increased substantially.”
“Really? Who invested?”
“I don’t know either. Should I casually ask the director later?”
“The director already seems drunk.”
Surely it couldn’t be the JT Group… Cheong-yeon gnawed at his lower lip with needless suspicion.
Sponsorships, investments—every topic of conversation was difficult to join. Cheong-yeon remained silent among the chatting actors, merely observing the situation.
Fortunately, he wasn’t the only one feeling out of place. Across from him, an unusually tall male actor also sat like a statue with his hat pulled low, not saying a word. Perhaps because his eyes were hidden, he appeared angry at first glance.
Meanwhile, a server brought meat to the table. Cheong-yeon, who had been sitting like an awkward sack of barley, was glad to have something to do and began placing the meat on the grill.
Setting up the table was something familiar to Cheong-yeon. He had briefly worked part-time as a server at a barbecue restaurant, and since his Mangdol days, he was usually the one who grilled the meat whenever they dined with broadcasting staff.
“Anyway, isn’t it good to receive more investment? I hope they do intensive skin correction.”
“Right. Look at Cheong-yeon’s peach fuzz. If I stand next to him, my wrinkles will just stand out more. The problem these days is that the image quality is too good.”
“Will skin correction even reach someone like me?”
Cheong-yeon murmured curiously as he watched the smoke rising from the meat.
“What? Why would you need that, Cheong-yeon? That’s shameless.”
“Well, we all want to look good on screen. Come on, everyone take a drink first.”
“Why does our table have less meat though?”
A male actor sitting in the center of the long table grumbled as he stared at the cooking meat.
“They always give actors less because they’re on diets. If it’s not enough, we can order more later.”
“Now, everyone take a glass. Please take good care of each other when we start filming.”
“Please take good care of me too.”
“Han Iram, aren’t you drinking?”
While the actors each raised their glasses and said a few words, the actor sitting across from Cheong-yeon still neither joined the conversation nor picked up his glass, just sitting there blankly.
Cheong-yeon’s eyes widened upon hearing his name. Han Iram was an actor who had rapidly risen to lead roles after his recent film became a massive hit.
Of course, Cheong-yeon knew he was appearing in this drama, but because he was wearing a hat, Cheong-yeon hadn’t recognized him at all.
“…I’ll pass.”
“Oh.”
Han Iram’s cold response rapidly cooled the atmosphere at the table.
Cheong-yeon noticed from the corner of his eye that Han Iram repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fist on the table. Was he nervous?
“You won’t even have one drink? We’re all gathered together before filming starts.”
“I just don’t feel like eating right now.”
“…”
“Well, okay. Let’s not force someone who doesn’t want to drink. Those who want to drink can drink!”
The most senior actor stepped in to change the subject. The other actors, who had been frozen while exchanging glances, finally raised their glasses again.
Just as the tense atmosphere was about to ease, Han Iram, who hadn’t moved from his seat at all, suddenly stood up.
The scraping sound of the chair was loud, and everyone at the table focused their attention on him.
“…”
Han Iram pulled his hat down even lower, then turned around and left the restaurant without saying a word.
“…What’s up with him? Why is he acting like that?”
Another actor frowned as he stared at the door through which Han Iram had left.
“I don’t know either. No matter what, a senior offered him a drink, and he openly showed his dislike.”
“Is he an Alpha?”
“No, I think he’s a Beta.”
“Really? He’s so tall I thought he was an Alpha. I don’t know what gives him the confidence to act like that.”
“He’s probably a silver spoon kid who thinks he’s above everyone else.”
“Ahh. That explains it.”
Throughout all this, Cheong-yeon was diligently managing the grill to prevent the meat from burning.
“What are you doing on Friday, Cheong-yeon?”
“Friday?”
Cheong-yeon momentarily froze as he was transferring meat to a plate.
“The executive director here is famous for holding dinner gatherings every Friday because he doesn’t want to go home. Be careful not to get caught.”
“If you do get caught, you’ll be there until at least 4 AM.”
“Ah… I see.”
For a moment, he hesitated, unable to find an answer at the mention of Friday. It was unlikely, but he found it difficult to maintain his expression, wondering if they were asking because they knew about his regular meetings with Do-heon on Fridays.
Fortunately, it seemed to have been said without any particular meaning. But ever since hearing that Bae Seah was especially close with entertainment reporters, Cheong-yeon tensed up strangely whenever she spoke.
But upon reflection, there was no need to be so overly sensitive. Only Do-heon and Secretary Shim knew what he did every Friday. There was no way Bae Seah would know about that.
Besides, he wouldn’t be meeting Do-heon for a while. After the day he had a nosebleed due to accumulated fatigue a few days ago, Do-heon had notified him that he had an overseas business trip scheduled, so Cheong-yeon wouldn’t need to keep Fridays open this month.
Since that day, the attending physician at the university hospital where Cheong-yeon had been a patient called several times to check on him, urging him to visit the hospital if his symptoms worsened or if he experienced any discomfort. Along with the strong recommendation to discontinue simultaneous use of suppressants and birth control pills.
Even without asking, it was clear that Do-heon had contacted them and told them to persuade Cheong-yeon. Of course, Cheong-yeon let it go in one ear and out the other.
While he wouldn’t need to take birth control pills for a few weeks since he wouldn’t be meeting Do-heon due to the business trip, the situation remained unchanged—he would have to start taking them again once Do-heon returned.
Just thinking about having another heated argument when they met again was mentally exhausting. He shouldn’t have been caught in the first place.
“But why isn’t Han Iram coming back? Did he really just go home?”
“I know, right? There are directors and writers at this dinner. Leaving without saying goodbye is a bit…”
“Unbelievable. Is being rich at home such an honor?”
As Han Iram didn’t return even after a long time had passed, people at the table started talking.
After discussing him for a while, the actors seemed to have concluded that he had gone home without saying a word.
Cheong-yeon thought about Han Iram, who had been notably tense throughout the dinner. Although they were meeting for the first time, his defensive attitude was concerning. He hadn’t even taken a sip of water, let alone eaten anything.
The way he had completely wrapped himself up, not just his face but his entire body, was almost like…
“I’ll go to the restroom for a moment.”
Cheong-yeon, who had been diligently grilling meat, put down the tongs and stood up. People were now slightly drunk, their voices louder than usual.
Just as they were getting worked up talking about a difficult client from a recent commercial shoot, Cheong-yeon’s voice was naturally drowned out by the noise.
Cheong-yeon took off the apron provided by the restaurant and looked around to find the restroom.
“Where’s the restroom?”
“You need to go outside and up one floor.”
“Ah. Thank you.”
As soon as he heard the location from a passing restaurant employee, Cheong-yeon went out and climbed the stairs. As the employee had said, the public restroom for the shopping complex was right there.
Upon entering the men’s restroom, the first thing he noticed was that one of the two stalls was locked.
Even though there was no guarantee that Han Iram was there, Cheong-yeon approached the closed stall and knocked.
Knock, knock.
“Is someone in there?”
When there was no answer, Cheong-yeon knocked again.
“…Excuse me, Actor Han Iram?”
Cheong-yeon put his ear close to the door, hoping to hear even the slightest sound from inside. That’s when he detected a very faint Omega pheromone.
“Are you in there? Is something wrong?”
“Who are you?”
“I’m Yoo Cheong-yeon.”
“…”
After Cheong-yeon answered, the person beyond the partition fell silent again.
Having instinctively realized that it was indeed Han Iram, Cheong-yeon fell into thought momentarily.
Didn’t they say this person was a Beta? Moreover, he was someone with a large build and overall rugged appearance, to the extent that some people mistook his phenotype for an Alpha.
But this was obviously a heat cycle symptom, no matter who looked at it.
“Han Iram, are you perhaps…”
“You’re an Omega, right?”
Han Iram abruptly asked just as Cheong-yeon was about to speak again.
“Yes, I am.”
“…Then please help me.”
“First, try opening the door. Have you taken any suppressants?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
