17
Jeong Taejun had said that Jo Junghyun had “cute pheromones,” but that wasn’t quite right. Junghyun’s pheromones weren’t cute, they were irresistibly captivating. His scent was sweetish but not sticky. It was lighter than a flower scent, yet sweeter than grass—a fragrance difficult to describe that completely entranced Ji Seunghyeok.
It was difficult to suppress the instinct of an extremely dominant alpha who wanted to make this omega, with his fresh and sweet pheromones, his own.
Seunghyeok had gone through rut several times in his life, and among those experiences were extremely dominant omegas and omegas famous for their pheromone scents. But he had never wanted to inhale someone’s pheromones like a starving man, not even once. He was like someone addicted to Junghyun’s pheromones.
Seunghyeok wasn’t greedy, but he had to get what he wanted to feel satisfied. He couldn’t stupidly sit by and let the omega right in front of him slip away. In the end, he had successfully invited him into his home under the guise of kindness. He was barely restraining himself only because Junghyun was too young.
And then.
Seunghyeok involuntarily frowned as he recalled that Jeong Taejun had done the same thing he had and smelled Junghyun’s pheromones. The thought of someone else smelling Junghyun’s pheromones made him feel deeply unpleasant.
It was fortunate that Taejun was an omega. If he had been an alpha, Seunghyeok couldn’t guarantee what he might have done.
Unaware of Seunghyeok’s state, Junghyun checked the time and said he was going to bed. After exchanging simple good nights, Seunghyeok rubbed his temple as he answered an incoming report call on his phone.
“Let’s decide on that part as Manager suggested. Yes. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Seunghyeok ended the call as briefly as possible. His fingers slowly tapped the table after putting down the phone.
He had thought Junghyun was a preciously raised young master, but something was off.
Come to think of it, Junghyun hadn’t seemed particularly pleased when Seunghyeok mentioned ordering chicken. He’d initially thought it was because Junghyun had refined tastes, but it wasn’t that—he was simply tired of delivery food. To be tired of chicken, which was considered the nation’s favorite late-night snack. Just how much of it had he eaten?
Seunghyeok had foods he avoided for similar reasons. Specifically, ramen. When he was young, he ate ramen for every meal, and even now, more than a decade later, he wouldn’t even look at it. That wasn’t all. Even smelling it made him nauseous.
He saw himself overlapping with Junghyun.
Seunghyeok, who had been glaring at one corner of the desk, shifted his gaze to the clock hanging on the wall.
It was already approaching midnight.
Without hesitation, Seunghyeok moved to call a familiar number. The name Jeong Taejun clearly appeared on his phone screen.
“What’s going on?”
“Are you busy?”
“No, haa… not really.”
Hearing the breathing on the other end of the phone, Seunghyeok spoke in an unaffected voice.
“Seems like I called in the middle of something.”
“If you knew that, you could respect my work-life balance, Director Ji.”
“I’ll get straight to the point. I’d like you to investigate Jo Junghyun.”
There was no immediate response from Taejun. He spoke with a puzzled voice.
“If my memory isn’t failing me, I believe I brought you the investigation just yesterday morning…?”
“Your perceptiveness has diminished quite a bit.”
“……”
Taejun fell silent again.
“This will require a special allowance, you know the amount, right?”
“Then I’ll expect it by tomorrow evening.”
“…Evening? Yes, yes. As soon as you make the deposit, I’ll make the impossible possible.”
After hearing Taejun’s glib acceptance of the request, Seunghyeok immediately ended the call.
It was much later, after checking documents to confirm matters that weren’t yet finalized, that Seunghyeok finally lay down.
Waking to the sound of an alert, Seunghyeok got ready as usual and went out of his room. He wondered if he’d woken Junghyun despite trying to be careful. He could see Junghyun coming out of his room, rubbing his eyes.
The way his hair stuck up in the back looked cute. Did he have a particular sleeping habit? He seemed like he would sleep neatly, so it was another unexpected quirk.
“Take this.”
Junghyun looked at what Seunghyeok was holding out. Perhaps because he had just woken up, his focus wasn’t clear as he frowned at what Seunghyeok was holding. And the moment he realized what it was, Junghyun was startled.
“Oh. You don’t have to give me a card. It’s okay.”
“You’ll need it for ingredients. Go shopping. If you buy too much and it’s hard to carry, call me.”
As he handed over the card insistently, Junghyun was at a loss.
“It’s because I enjoyed what you made.”
At the compliment, his pale face visibly reddened. It was as if he’d been dyed with flower pigment.
Junghyun carefully accepted the card with both hands.
“Um, what time will you be home today?”
“Around 7, I think.”
Hearing the answer, Junghyun nodded and said he understood.
Seunghyeok’s departure time was too early for the average person, so there was no need for Junghyun to see him off, but he insisted. And Seunghyeok didn’t dislike it. The feeling of being seen off by someone was unexpectedly refreshing. He didn’t feel like refusing.
“Have a good day.”
“I’ll be back.”
The ticklish feeling from exchanging greetings.
Yesterday too, when Junghyun was preparing dinner and told Seunghyeok to wash up, he had smiled. The conversation itself wasn’t strange at all. The problem was that the conversation made him feel ticklish inside.
It was quite embarrassing.
Wasn’t it like a newlywed couple’s conversation?
Thinking that way made him smile again.
Exchanging simple and peaceful greetings wasn’t bad at all. It felt like immersing his body in lukewarm warmth.
The thought of having such conversations with Junghyun again when he returned home today made him excited. Seunghyeok sank deep into the car seat.
As soon as he arrived at the office, he called Lee Youngsun to his room.
After summoning him, Seunghyeok said nothing and just let him stand there. Youngsun, being quick-witted, rapidly tried to figure out why he had been called. He would likely guess why Seunghyeok had called him before long. And Seunghyeok’s prediction proved correct. Youngsun’s confusion had diminished from before.
Standing still with perfect posture, Youngsun waited like a well-trained dog until Seunghyeok spoke.
Even as other employees entered and exited with reports several times, he remained standing. Even though he must have felt the glances directed at him.
Click. As soon as an employee left and closed the door, Seunghyeok opened his mouth.
“You should have just told me directly.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It doesn’t seem like I called you here to hear an apology.”
Seunghyeok put down the document he was looking at on the desk.
“Did you think I was an idiot who could be easily fooled and manipulated?”
“No, no, that’s not it, sir…!”
Youngsun, who had been listening quietly, exclaimed urgently. Seunghyeok raised his eyes to look at him. When their eyes met, Youngsun flinched and stepped back slightly.
“I’ll let it go just this once.”
At Seunghyeok’s low, warning voice, Youngsun closed his mouth. Told to leave, Youngsun said nothing more, bowed, and left.
The reason Seunghyeok had treated Youngsun with near contempt was because of his attitude. It wasn’t just about treating Junghyun like a debtor. Youngsun had tried to cover up his mistake and deceive Seunghyeok.
Once you appear to be an easy target, things can quickly get out of hand. It was better to nip it in the bud. Youngsun needed to be reminded who was in charge.
He wasn’t one to misunderstand, so he wouldn’t treat Junghyun carelessly again. Seunghyeok finished his work one by one and tried to estimate his return time.
But problems always arose from unexpected places.
By the time he had dealt with the issue of a debtor who had boldly attempted to flee in the night and returned home, it was already the middle of the night. Even calling it the middle of the night was being polite. It was nearly 2 AM.
He hadn’t expected to be this late. The situation had been so urgent that he hadn’t had time to contact anyone in between. To be honest, the thought of contacting anyone hadn’t even crossed his mind. By the time he came to his senses, it was past midnight. Only after checking the time did he remember that Junghyun had asked about his return time.
Looking at his phone, he saw a text message about the card amount used at the supermarket.
At this hour, he’s probably sleeping.
Seunghyeok moved carefully to avoid making noise.
The lights in the house were on. More precisely, the light over the dining table was on.
Seunghyeok saw Junghyun slumped over the dining table.
His round back looked very small.
Empty bowls were placed on the table, perhaps prepared so that he could set the table when Seunghyeok returned on time. Looking toward the stove, he saw a pot. He didn’t look inside to see what had been made, but that wasn’t important.
Seunghyeok quietly looked at Junghyun. Was it because he was slumped over? His protruding collarbone and thin shoulders seemed pitiful.
Seunghyeok gently patted Junghyun’s shoulder.
“Jo Junghyun…?”
“…Mm, mmm.”
Wrinkles formed on Junghyun’s smooth forehead.
His long eyelashes, long enough to cast shadows under his eyes, trembled, and the next moment revealed dazed eyes completely devoid of wariness.
“…Oh. It’s hyung.”
The defenseless murmur was so cute it made Seunghyeok want to laugh.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
