Chapter 57
Why is this man so annoying? Was his personality always like this?
Out of habit, Cheong-yeon almost typed “ㅗ” to send, but quickly realizing his position, he hurriedly deleted the message.
After pondering briefly about how to respond, Cheong-yeon couldn’t find the right words and put down his phone. Since he hadn’t frequently texted with Do-heon even during their marriage, sending trivial messages felt awkward.
“Whatever. What’s the point of having long conversations with this guy?”
Cheong-yeon gazed out the window, waiting for his manager who had gone to buy lunch. The manager had mentioned picking up food from a popular restaurant, but it seemed the wait was longer than expected due to crowds.
While lost in thought, his phone rang again. Checking the screen, he saw Do-heon was calling.
Startled by the name “Moon Do-heon” displayed on the screen, Cheong-yeon fumbled before pressing the answer button.
“Hello?”
—Did you receive the contract?
Do-heon asked abruptly.
“Yes. This morning.”
Cheong-yeon recalled the contract he had received earlier today through someone Do-heon had sent.
The contract clearly outlined the conditions they had discussed, detailing what each of them required. Additionally, the envelope contained a time and place for their Friday meeting, along with a hotel key card. The implication was clear: go directly to the hotel room.
—If you want any changes, think about it and let me know by Friday.
“I don’t. I’ve agreed to all the content.”
—Once you sign, you can’t back out.
“…I have no intention of backing out.”
Since he had already prepared himself for all this, Cheong-yeon remained calm when receiving the contract. He was even surprised by his own composure.
—Good then.
Do-heon said in an insensitive tone. Cheong-yeon, still holding the phone to his ear, glanced again at where the clothes were hanging.
“Are you sure these clothes weren’t sent by you, Director?”
—Not at all.
He dismissed it curtly.
Knowing Do-heon wasn’t the type to lie unnecessarily, Cheong-yeon decided to drop his suspicions. It was true that neat clothes and dark hair suited the acting profession better.
—I need to go now. Come to the hotel on time this Friday.
His voice commanding him to come to the hotel was so businesslike that anyone listening would believe he was calling about work matters.
Whether he was truly busy or not, the call ended abruptly before Cheong-yeon could even acknowledge. Already accustomed to this inconsiderate behavior, Cheong-yeon calmly put his phone in his pocket.
Suddenly, he wondered if there were ever moments when Do-heon was truly passionate about something.
“Actor Yoo. Sorry for the long wait. The restaurant was really crowded, so the waiting time was longer than expected.”
With perfect timing, the manager returned with the packaged food. Sitting in the driver’s seat, he handed the heavily wrapped meals to Cheong-yeon.
“Thank you.”
“We’re running late because I took so long getting the food. Would it be okay if you eat while we drive?”
“Can’t be helped. But aren’t you going to eat, Manager?”
“I’ll eat when we arrive. Let’s get going.”
The car engine started. Cheong-yeon pushed aside the question that had been on his mind and opened the food container.
*
Friday.
Cheong-yeon had hoped to be busy until the evening when he was supposed to meet Do-heon, but his schedule ended too early. Apart from a meeting to review a new script, there were no other appointments today.
Cheong-yeon felt like the world had flipped upside down in just one week. Too many things were changing without giving him time to adapt, moving faster than his consciousness could keep up with.
When Do-heon first proposed the sponsorship, Cheong-yeon had expected to receive supporting roles in desired films or dramas. Maybe appearances on entertainment shows featuring actors. From there, he imagined he might luckily secure a lead role eventually.
He thought it would be enough to immerse himself in acting, even if he failed and had to try again. That was the extent of his realistic wishes.
He never dreamed he would be moving as part of a team, like a project. Cheong-yeon felt swept away by a wave that had already begun to surge, dragging him somewhere unknown.
While excited about attempting something he had wanted for so long, he was also afraid and couldn’t shake the doubts about whether his choice had been right.
Arriving at the hotel earlier than his scheduled meeting time with Do-heon, Cheong-yeon stood in front of the elevator with a tense expression.
The more he reminded himself that he would have to sleep with Do-heon today, the more his stomach churned as if seasick.
The elevator quickly ascended to the higher floors. The room Do-heon had reserved was located on the top floor of the hotel.
Shortly afterward, with a brief mechanical sound announcing arrival, the elevator doors opened. Cheong-yeon stepped onto the thickly carpeted hallway. With each hurried step, his heart felt like it was plummeting to the floor.
Standing at the room door, he held up the key card, and the lock disengaged. Cheong-yeon clenched and unclenched his fist to suppress his nervousness. Then he reached out and grabbed the door handle.
Stepping inside, he found himself in the spacious living room of a suite. Being early, Do-heon hadn’t arrived yet.
“Haaah…”
Sighing deeply, Cheong-yeon moved further into the room. Seeing the large bed, immaculately made with crisp white sheets, vague images of what would soon happen there flashed through his mind.
Cheong-yeon sat at the table with an anxious expression, trying to compose himself. But he couldn’t calm down easily.
“The script. Let me look at the script.”
To dispel his anxiety, he took out his script from his bag.
The role he had recently been cast for had undergone significant changes in dialogue and screen time. Having just received the revised script yesterday, he was in the process of memorizing the new lines.
Settling at the table and focusing on the script, he found that the words wouldn’t register. Even breaking down words and reading them individually didn’t help—their meaning wouldn’t stick and scattered chaotically in his mind.
After struggling to concentrate, Cheong-yeon eventually gave up on memorizing and closed the script.
He should be arriving soon. After giving up on the script, Cheong-yeon showered and checked the time.
Ding-dong.
Just then, the doorbell rang inside the room. Cheong-yeon hurriedly rose from his seat and approached the door.
“Who is it?”
—Hello, Mr. Yoo Cheong-yeon. I’m here on Director Moon’s errand.
After his cautious inquiry, a gentle response came from outside. Cheong-yeon carefully opened the door to confirm who it was.
A woman who appeared to be a hotel employee smiled and greeted Cheong-yeon.
“Director Moon’s meeting is running longer than expected, so he’ll be a little late for your appointment. He said you should eat dinner first, but to please go easy on the alcohol.”
“Ah, I see.”
“For your meal, please check the room service menu card and call us. We’ll send it up right away.”
“Okay, I understand.”
“Enjoy your evening.”
After the employee left, Cheong-yeon was alone in the room again. Though he wasn’t hungry, the difficulty of killing time by doing nothing led him to order room service.
However, even after the food arrived and he finished eating, there was still no contact from Do-heon. The sky outside had grown completely dark, with a faint crescent moon hanging above. Below it, countless lights from the city center sparkled densely.
I wish we could just get this over with quickly.
As time passed, the table where he sat alone felt increasingly vast.
The empty seat across the table and this spine-chilling silence. While waiting alone for Do-heon was familiar enough not to feel strange, it wasn’t pleasant either. It oddly felt like returning to the time before their divorce, which made it even more uncomfortable.
Swallowing a sigh, Cheong-yeon gulped down water to soothe his parched throat. But rather than quenching his thirst, his mouth felt even drier.
A drink might help me calm down.
As he reached for the phone to order wine through room service, Cheong-yeon suddenly stopped. He remembered the hotel employee mentioning that Do-heon had asked him to go easy on alcohol.
Being in such a clearly subordinate position, he hesitated to ignore that instruction and drink. Besides, Do-heon had always preferred sobriety over intoxication, whether from pheromones or alcohol.
“Hah… what should I do?”
Cheong-yeon muttered anxiously, like an addict experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Unable to resist any longer, he called Do-heon.
“……”
Despite the prolonged ring tone, Do-heon didn’t answer. Cheong-yeon bit his lower lip in response.
This really does feel like going back in time. Was I too greedy? Ending up waiting for him like this again…
Having completely lost any initiative in their relationship and feeling at his mercy, Cheong-yeon’s mood plummeted.
He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration, gripping his phone tightly. Just as he was about to give up on the call, the other party answered right before it would have disconnected.
—I’m on my way.
Do-heon said immediately upon answering.
“When will you arrive?”
—In thirty minutes.
“……”
At the news of his imminent arrival, Cheong-yeon’s mind raced.
—If you have something to say, tell me.
“Would it be okay if I have just one drink?”
—Why alcohol?
“Just… I’m nervous.”
Cheong-yeon replied softly, his lips trembling.
He was afraid it would hurt, and honestly, he still felt reluctant about revealing his pheromones to Do-heon. He was still concerned that Do-heon might think of him as an inferior Omega who couldn’t even control his pheromones…
“…And scared too.”
—Scared? Of what?
Do-heon asked dryly.
“This situation isn’t exactly normal, is it?”
A few seconds of silence followed.
“So, is it not allowed?”
—Just don’t drink a whole bottle like last time.
“I won’t.”
At this reluctant permission, Cheong-yeon quickly responded, worried Do-heon might change his mind. Then, as if he hadn’t just been so dejected, he promptly ordered a bottle of wine through room service.
Since Do-heon said he’d arrive in about thirty minutes, he needed to quickly indulge to get through the night with the help of alcohol.
“What a sight.”
Finishing his work and entering the hotel room, Do-heon muttered after noticing the wine bottle on the table and Cheong-yeon’s condition.
“You’re here?”
Slouched in his chair, Cheong-yeon suddenly straightened up. His face was flushed red, clearly indicating intoxication.
Do-heon picked up the bottle to check how much wine remained. It was almost empty.
“I left some because you said not to drink it all.”
Cheong-yeon approached Do-heon with a shameless excuse. Though not completely drunk, his gait was fairly steady.
But as soon as Cheong-yeon spoke from nearby, the scent of wine and thick Omega pheromones wafted toward Do-heon. Noticing this, his brow twitched subtly.
“Yes, I see. There’s a bit left, barely.”
He pushed the wine bottle to one side of the table. Only then did Cheong-yeon roll his eyes slightly, gauging Do-heon’s reaction.
“I didn’t know you liked wine this much.”
Do-heon murmured softly. He then removed his jacket, placing it on the sofa, and approached Cheong-yeon with unhurried steps.
As the man, easily a hand span taller than himself, came closer, Cheong-yeon hunched his shoulders and retreated.
“Why?”
“……”
For each step Cheong-yeon took backward, Do-heon closed the distance again.
“Why are you running away?”
Do-heon questioned, clearly displeased.
“Have I ever treated you roughly enough for you to be afraid?”
He had been bothered by Cheong-yeon saying he was scared during their earlier phone call. Regardless of Cheong-yeon’s retreat, Do-heon tilted his head and moved even closer. Then he grasped Cheong-yeon’s soft chin, lifting it to make him look at him.
Meeting those black eyes, Cheong-yeon felt a sudden surge of emotion.
You’ve never treated me kindly either. Those words caught in his throat, but he didn’t voice them. He had no intention of being so foolish as to make such complaints to Do-heon.
Having agreed to receive compensation, he needed to deliver value in return. As Do-heon had said, this was a transaction.
As Do-heon’s intense gaze fell upon his face, Cheong-yeon couldn’t shake his nervousness and lowered his eyes. His long eyelashes, densely settled on his eyelids, fluttered like butterfly wings.
“It’s not that I’m afraid of you, Director, just nervous…”
Muttering this while taking a deep breath, Cheong-yeon raised his eyes again to meet Do-heon’s gaze.
“What should I do first? Please tell me.”
This time, instead of running away, Cheong-yeon carefully moved closer to Do-heon.
Do-heon’s large hand leisurely brushed through Cheong-yeon’s newly dyed, soft hair.
“Well. If an actor has come to receive sponsorship…”
“……”
“First, you should take off your clothes. So I can properly appreciate you.”
Despite his explicit words, Do-heon’s expression and voice as he looked down at Cheong-yeon were extremely dry and ascetic.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
