Why had Ha-jin made a different choice this time?
Cheon Tae-seong, who had been quietly staring at Ha-jin for quite a while, finally opened his mouth.
“You’re going to meet them… and after that? What are you planning to do then?”
“I’ll hear them out first. Then I’ll decide what to do next.”
Ha-jin felt a slight heat rising in him. In his past life, he’d been fooled like an idiot, but this time was different. He had to find out—why they were trying to harm Cheon Tae-seong, who they were.
It was a way to pay off his own debts, and also a way to unload the guilt he carried for betraying Cheon Tae-seong.
“If that scam group targeted you and my brother thinking you had something special going on, like you said, then it could be more dangerous than you think.”
“Exactly. If they came at him thinking they were lovers and still made such a bold move, that means they’re seriously dangerous.”
“And you’re still talking about going to meet them yourself?”
“I think it comes down to two possibilities. Either they offered him something huge—enough to make someone betray their lover—or they’ve got some kind of dirt on him, something even Yushin doesn’t know.”
He’d been thinking it over during the taxi ride and again while washing up. They must have had enough confidence to believe in Yushin’s betrayal—there was no way they would’ve approached otherwise.
When he suddenly wondered whether it might be the new drug, he got chills all over. If that were the case, then he had to meet them.
What would’ve happened in his past life if he had refused the 500 million won and the pheromone disruptor? No doubt they would have gone with blackmail and threats to silence him. The miracle drug that appeared right after—it might’ve been part of their setup all along. After all, that drug had drained every last bit of his remaining money.
If his hunch was right, then they had cunningly stolen away all of Ha-jin’s options and blinded him.
Talking with Cheon Tae-seong, Ha-jin came to a realization. Maybe he had been driven to death no matter what. Just being next to Cheon Tae-seong had put him in danger.
And that realization struck Cheon Tae-seong at the same time. Why hadn’t he seen something so simple back then? He thought of Kim Dae-hong, who had tried to stop him, telling him to forgive Ha-jin. He’d insisted that there had to be a reason for Ha-jin’s betrayal—that there must’ve been something he couldn’t refuse.
“Manager-nim made that choice in part because of you, sir. I’m certain of it.”
But back then, Cheon Tae-seong had been too blinded by the sense of betrayal. All he’d wanted to do was corner Ha-jin, pressure and threaten him until he spilled the truth.
“You’re a great boss to work with, sir.”
“I really hope I get to work with you until the end.”
The sweet things Ha-jin used to whisper to him over their two years together had felt like pure deception—painful and cruel.
That’s why he wanted Ha-jin to say something—anything—to soothe his wounded heart. He’d been longing to hear something from Ha-jin.
Something like:
“Actually… I really like you, sir.”
Or even:
“I like you. A lot. So much.”
“Fuck…”
The sudden curse, thrown right in his face, made Ha-jin’s eyes go wide. Had he said something that terrifying? He was completely taken aback.
“…CEO?”
“That wasn’t aimed at you.”
“…”
The curse had come out of nowhere, and the silence that followed was just as jarring. Not knowing what to do, Ha-jin looked at Cheon Tae-seong’s face.
Was he flustered? His cheeks had a flush to them, and his expression was tight with thought, his facial muscles tense. Feeling awkward, Ha-jin picked up his now-cold tea and took a few gulps just to do something.
That’s when he suddenly realized there was a hole in his plan.
In his previous life, they had approached him after he had spent two years closely managing Cheon Tae-seong’s daily life.
But this time, it was after that flashy hospital admission—clearly, they had mistaken Yushin for Tae-seong’s lover.
He’d handed over his business card to protect Yushin from their attention, but maybe that had just caused confusion.
What if they didn’t call?
If they decided he didn’t have the means to drug Cheon Tae-seong, he’d become a useless card.
And then the new drug, or anything else—he’d have no way to confirm it. It would all vanish like a mirage.
“By the way… I think we might have to pretend to be dating.”
“What?”
The tension in Cheon Tae-seong’s face cracked. Ha-jin cautiously continued.
“From the beginning, they thought Yushin was your partner. But I gave them my card and introduced myself as your pheromone manager. If they conclude we’re just a client-manager pair from a month-old contract, won’t they realize they were wrong? We need to make them believe you care deeply for me—and that’s why you were being kind to Yushin.”
Watching his face closely, Ha-jin calmly explained.
“I don’t know what they’re after, but it’s definitely nothing good for you. If we let them back off now, we might lose them for good. We have to catch them. We need to uncover who’s behind this if we want to avoid future trouble.”
“…”
“I really want to… catch them. That’s the only way I’ll be able to sleep at night.”
“Why are you going this far? This is my problem…”
“Exactly, that’s why… Because they came after Yushin. That alone is enough reason for me.”
Pretending to be clueless, trying to sound casual as he rambled his way through a justification—it all lacked the weight of sincerity. When Tae-seong’s brow furrowed deeply, Ha-jin grew tense and fell silent.
Cheon Tae-seong ran a large hand down his jawline and let out a heavy sigh.
“So you’re saying… we should pretend to be dating?”
“Pretend! Pretend, that’s all!”
Startled, Ha-jin frantically waved his hands in denial. But Cheon Tae-seong’s gaze only grew sharper.
The anger that had crumpled his face slowly ebbed away.
With steady, grounded eyes, he looked at Ha-jin sitting right in front of him, and began retracing the stormy whirlwind of feelings that had been raging inside him all this time.
And then—he admitted it.
He’d been a fool not to see it, but he’d been in love with Lee Ha-jin this whole time.
Even if his head hadn’t realized it, his body already had—he’d imprinted. That immature, helpless crush had quietly taken root.
He’d thought he was just sulking over losing someone who always followed him around, keeping one side of his world warm—but that was a huge mistake.
Maybe, from long before that past life. Maybe, from the very moment they met.
He’d already been in love with Ha-jin.
“Fine. Let’s do it. Let’s pretend to date.”
Cheon Tae-seong said it flatly, like he was just suggesting a round of rock-paper-scissors.
When Ha-jin didn’t answer right away, Tae-seong scoffed and added a warning.
“Just so you know, I don’t do anything halfway.”
It was practically a declaration of war.
Taking it as just an enthusiastic yes, Ha-jin crinkled his nose playfully.
“Me neither.”
“…”
“I’m pretty thorough about everything I do.”
Cheon Tae-seong was momentarily speechless at Ha-jin’s smile—then suddenly burst into laughter.
It was the first time Ha-jin had seen him laugh like that all morning, and it caught him off guard.
The light fell across his fair, beautiful face, and for a moment, it was like watching a flower bloom.
With a smile as delicate as a petal, Cheon Tae-seong reached out, lightly cupped Ha-jin’s cheek, and let go.
“Then we’re on the same side now. All the way to the end.”
***
HONK!
A loud horn blared as a white sedan slammed to a stop.
Caught off guard by the sudden brake, Han Ki-taek spilled his coffee and smacked his nose hard against the back of the front seat.
“What the fuck—! Can’t you drive properly?! Fuck, what the hell, Jang!”
“S-Sorry! I’m so sorry! The car in front—”
Driver Jang’s excuse was cut short.
From the car that had abruptly cut in and blocked them, someone familiar stepped out.
The man who emerged buttoned his flapping suit against the wind and strode confidently toward Ki-taek’s car.
“S-Sir… that’s…”
“Ugh, great. My nose is bleeding. Got any tissues?”
Just then, the rear door flung open.
Before Ki-taek could even register the long legs sliding into the backseat, Cheon Tae-seong was already inside—like it was his own car.
He shut the door gently and turned to face Han Ki-taek.
“Good afternoon.”
“You… you little—!”
Ki-taek glared at him, pressing a finger under his bleeding nose.
Even if he was flashing that punk-ass smile, he was still his own flesh and blood. But the look in Ki-taek’s eyes said he wanted to throw him out with a punch.
Cheon Tae-seong calmly pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it over. Ki-taek snatched it with that same murderous glare.
He dabbed away the blood at his philtrum and tried to stop the flow, but it wouldn’t quit. His son’s irritating pheromones and the metallic stench of blood filled his nostrils.
“You never make time for me, so I had no choice but to come myself.”
Cheon Tae-seong remarked, eyeing Ki-taek’s now coffee-stained suit.
“If we had an appointment, you should’ve waited like a civilized person. What kind of gangster bullshit is this?”
“You mean the meeting you scheduled a month from now?”
Tae-seong bit into his words with a sly smile.
“You don’t even have much going on, so when I saw that ridiculous date your secretary gave me, I thought maybe you were just trying to avoid me. But clearly, seeing you this busy, that’s not the case. That’s a relief.”
“…”
“Then again, whether it’s gambling, fucking around, or pocketing dirty cash, I’m sure you’re swamped with something. I guess I was being unfair, huh, Executive Han?”
“Watch your mouth. Like it or not, I’m still your father. At least show some respect.”
But Cheon Tae-seong didn’t flinch at the icy warning.
In fact, he smiled more deeply, watching the anger flare in Han Ki-taek’s eyes.
“You’re the one who should watch what you say. I’ve got feelings too, you know. That kind of talk—hurts.”
He was the kind of son who rejected his own existence with mockery.
Han Ki-taek exhaled slowly, pressing down on his still-bleeding nose.
Little shit.
His blood might be in him, but from the moment he was born, there hadn’t been a single thing about that kid that he liked—not even the way he looked.
He was a carbon copy of Cheon Han-jo in his younger years.
Sometimes, just looking at that face made Ki-taek wonder if Soo-young had fucked her own father and birthed his child.
“So. What exactly did you want to talk about?”
