By Zephyria “What brings you to bring your Darling along?”
Lee Do-hyeon, who had been watching over the sleeping Ryu Jeong for a while, closed the door silently and returned to the professor’s lab. The professor, who had been sitting in his chair staring at the computer monitor, gestured to the chair opposite him, telling him to sit down. As if he had expected him to come out, there was a teacup with steaming tea on the seat the professor had offered.
“He’s not my Darling.”
Lee Do-hyeon immediately corrected the professor’s assumption that Ryu Jeong was his Darling. Without even looking at the professor, he put his lips to the teacup, and the professor widened his eyes and stammered as if asking if he was serious.
That was because, from the moment he stepped into the lab, the professor had felt Lee Do-hyeon’s pheromones enveloping Ryu Jeong’s entire body. Even a stranger could tell that something had happened between the two of them just a moment ago, as he had given him such a strong pheromone shower, but now he was saying that they were not lovers. The professor looked at Lee Do-hyeon with a serious expression.
“Then, can I get a little explanation?”
“Only if you promise not to let it get to my father’s ears.”
Lee Do-hyeon, who had taken a sip of the fragrant tea, put down the teacup and stared straight at the professor. The professor coughed and straightened his posture. He had never done anything that Lee Do-hyeon was worried about, so he had nothing to feel guilty about, but the sharp gaze made him feel uneasy, as if he had some kind of karma built up.
“No one knows about today’s events except you, Professor. Not even Chief Yoon knows.”
If the story leaked elsewhere, it meant that Professor Kim was the only culprit. The professor sniffed once and clasped his hands together.
“You don’t have to worry. It’s patient information.”
He pursed his lips resolutely, as if to zip them shut, but Lee Do-hyeon did not immediately begin the story. He crossed his long legs and tapped his knee with his fingertips. After a long silence, his well-shaped lips opened.
“He’s just someone I know.”
“…Yes?”
“Just someone I know. I ran into him by chance, and it seemed like he was suddenly in Heat cycle, so I was going to take him to the hospital, but he asked me to fuck him, so I did.”
The price for waiting patiently was harsh. The professor felt his mind go blank at the unfiltered, explicit expression. He hurriedly took a sip of tea to calm his surprised stomach and rubbed his chin. He tried not to show that he was flustered, but all his emotions were revealed in his expression and actions.
That meant he didn’t want him to wonder who he was. It also meant that he didn’t trust him that much. The professor wasn’t so clueless that he couldn’t understand, so he awkwardly changed the subject.
“So… so, there was no coercion….”
“What did you hear? He asked me to fuck him first.”
“Well… as President knows well, when someone is in Heat cycle, their judgment is often impaired. Even if the patient directly said that he wanted to have sex, that may not be his true feelings when his reason is clouded……”
“I’m not such an idiot that I can’t tell the difference.”
The professor, who had suddenly been treated like an idiot, opened his mouth wide. It was fortunate, though he didn’t know if he should be grateful, that a faint smile appeared on Lee Do-hyeon’s lips. At least, as far as he could see, there was no sign of displeasure. The professor, who closed his wide-open mouth, licked his parched lips, even though he had just had tea.
“Then, did you use contraception separately?”
The professor indirectly asked whether he had come inside. Lee Do-hyeon shook his head slightly, his face showing no sign of embarrassment.
“Then it’s best to get tested separately. But you can’t tell if you’re pregnant just by getting tested right away. It’s too early right now. I recommend getting a morning-after pill first.”
“How effective is that morning-after pill?”
“I tell my patients not to rely on it too much.”
“So even if you take it, you can still get pregnant.”
Lee Do-hyeon, who had arrogantly raised his chin, made a small sound. The fingers that had been still for a moment began to tap his kneecap again. Occasionally, patients who were worried about the possibility of pregnancy because they had not used contraception would come to the hospital, and as they usually did, Lee Do-hyeon showed no sign of worrying or being embarrassed about what might happen.
“But can you get pregnant even if you’re in extreme heat?”
“The chances of getting pregnant in extreme heat are very slim. But if the partner is an Alpha, it’s a different story. I can’t say it’s impossible.”
Yes is yes, no is no. All patients want their doctors to give them definite answers, but speaking vaguely was the doctors’ unique way of speaking. He would share medical knowledge as requested, but he could not take full responsibility for it. Lee Do-hyeon, who muttered his crooked evaluation to himself as it came to mind, nodded his head, saying he understood.
“But usually, people with extreme heat don’t need to come to the hospital because their Heat subsides quickly… It’s amazing. I knew it was Heat cycle as soon as you came in, even though it was covered up by President’s pheromones.”
“Was it bad?”
“It was pretty bad if even I, who am not an Alpha, could tell.”
The professor smiled awkwardly. It was obvious that he had immediately started preparing what to do without even hearing the explanation of the situation.
“Normally, his pheromones are so weak that he’s no different from a Beta, but is it possible that his pheromones could become stronger because of this Heat cycle?”
Lee Do-hyeon didn’t like the fact that another Alpha had smelled Ryu Jeong’s pheromones, but that Alpha was clearly a medical professional. Lee Do-hyeon, who had decided to make an exception for medical personnel, changed the subject with another question.
“That’s… we’ll have to wait and see. But as you know, Heat or rut are exceptional situations. It’s best to see it as a temporary explosion of pheromones.”
“I see.”
“Then, when the patient wakes up, should I help him get a prescription for the morning-after pill? And since you’re here, I’d like you to get some basic tests done while you’re here.”
“Yes, please.”
As soon as permission was granted, the professor turned his chair and began typing on the keyboard. He typed quickly, then paused, lifting his fingers into the air as if he had thought of something. He gave him a look as he moved his lips as if he had something to say, and then he met Lee Do-hyeon’s eyes as if he had made up his mind.
“If… if you experience any abnormal symptoms after taking the medicine, you can come anytime.”
He hesitated several times while saying only one sentence, and as soon as he finished speaking, he avoided his gaze and stared intently at the monitor.
“……”
Lee Do-hyeon stared intently at the doctor, who continued to speak ambiguously. He said that even if he took the medicine, he could still get pregnant, so he should come to the hospital if he noticed any signs of it, but the way he spoke and the nuance were not positive. It was probably a statement that was conscious of his illegitimate status.
Did he want to be born into this kind of family? Suddenly, Kim Mi-hee and Lee Gyu-hyeon, who looked at him as if he was a bug, as if it was a sin to be born, came to his mind. He was told to be grateful that he had manifested as an Alpha, and when he looked back on the subtle and sometimes blatant contempt he had received, he repeatedly vowed that he would never repeat what Chairman Lee Kang-sun had done.
But if Ryu Jeong were to get pregnant, and that flat, dry stomach were to swell up roundly to raise his child, he strangely didn’t feel so bad. He didn’t regret having sex with Ryu Jeong in the first place, so wasn’t that natural? But it was right to think of sex and pregnancy as separate.
It was only his greed, but he hoped that there was a chance of pregnancy, as the professor had said was not entirely impossible. If his wish came true, he planned to come to the hospital with a different intention than the professor had conveyed. The kind of thing the professor was thinking about…….
“I hope that doesn’t happen.”
Lee Do-hyeon, who had a faint smile on his face, raised his teacup. The lukewarm tea slowly roamed around in his mouth before passing down his throat. Half of the remaining tea was still left, but Lee Do-hyeon did not bother to put it to his lips. He was planning to have a meal with Ryu Jeong as soon as he woke up. It was not too late to quench his thirst then.
Ryu Jeong, who had woken up groggily from his sleep after sensing someone’s presence, was able to leave the hospital only after undergoing several tests with the guidance of a nurse he had not seen before. He was told that the results would be sent to him as soon as they were available. He was bewildered because he had not received a kind explanation of what kind of tests he had undergone, but he forgot all about it at Lee Do-hyeon’s words that they should go out for a meal, and nodded with a bright smile.
For some reason, the area where the needle had been inserted felt stiff. When he just looked down at it without being able to touch it, Lee Do-hyeon noticed his discomfort and asked him what was wrong. When he told him the truth, the slightly narrowed brow slowly relaxed. He said that he might feel stiff as the medicine entered his blood vessels. He said that usually people complain of discomfort while getting an IV drip, but he must not have known because he was sleeping so deeply, and Lee Do-hyeon lightly stroked Ryu Jeong’s cheek. At the careful and affectionate touch, Ryu Jeong unconsciously leaned his face against him, but then had to pull his head back in surprise.
“Are you feeling better now?”
Lee Do-hyeon, who didn’t show any sign of being embarrassed by his hand floating in the air, asked calmly. Ryu Jeong awkwardly avoided his gaze, as if he had overreacted for no reason.
In response to the question about his condition, Ryu Jeong thought carefully. He wasn’t completely out of his mind like yesterday, but the heat that had been rising in his stomach like a fit of anger had now completely disappeared. Perhaps because he had slept well while getting an IV drip, he felt refreshed without being exhausted and sluggish.
“I feel better……”
“It subsides quickly if you get a suppressant. I know because I get it every time I have a rut.”
At the word rut, Ryu Jeong glanced up at Lee Do-hyeon. Perhaps it was because he had experienced Heat cycle himself, but he dared to imagine Lee Do-hyeon in rut cycle. Would he be as excited as he was?
Ryu Jeong, who was embarrassed just by thinking about what had happened yesterday, clasped his hands tightly together and fidgeted. But he didn’t stop thinking about it. Thinking about Lee Do-hyeon, who skillfully led him when he was at a loss for what to do with the excitement he was experiencing for the first time, his heart began to pound rapidly. Ryu Jeong swallowed hard, as if his mouth was parched. Lee Do-hyeon in rut cycle, excited like he was yesterday, begging him to do something about it….
“Now, like yesterday….”
“Uh, yesterday? What about yesterday?”
Ryu Jeong, who had been blankly continuing his imagination while waiting for the elevator, was startled just by Lee Do-hyeon’s words. Lee Do-hyeon, who was startled as well, blinked slowly.
Ryu Jeong had a bright red face, as if he had been caught doing something bad. What was he thinking about that he was so startled just by being spoken to…….
“……”
Aha. It wasn’t certain, but he had some idea of what was going on. Lee Do-hyeon tilted his head crookedly and pulled up the corners of his mouth to give a mischievous smile.
“Why?”
“Yes?”
“Are you disappointed that I can’t do it like yesterday?”
“No! No. I was just… thinking about something else for a moment……”
Ryu Jeong shook his head, his eyes wide open. He was relieved that he hadn’t been completely caught, but he was just as embarrassed that the point was completely off, and his face was burning. But as if his reaction was somewhat hurtful, Lee Do-hyeon dropped his mischievous smile and clicked his tongue bitterly.
“I’m a little sad that you’re denying it so vehemently.”
“Ah……”
He was taken aback by this reaction, which was a first for him. Ryu Jeong moved his lips, not knowing what to say to excuse himself or comfort him, even though he hadn’t done anything wrong. But this seemed to be part of the joke. Lee Do-hyeon, who soon smiled again, rolled his eyes as if recalling something.
“It’s too much to just brush it off, yesterday was so se-.”
“P, President. The elevator’s here.”
Ryu Jeong hurriedly cut him off, fearing that he would say something else explicit. Fortunately, the elevator had really arrived. There were several people inside, so he had no choice but to shut his mouth in consideration of his reputation.
Lee Do-hyeon wasn’t so thick-skinned that he would talk about his private life, especially one full of sexual stories, in front of strangers. He shrugged lightly, saying he understood, and got on the elevator with Ryu Jeong, looking for an empty space.
“Okay, I won’t joke around. What do you want to eat? Tell me if you have anything in mind. You must be hungry.”
“No… not really.”
“Then shall we go to the restaurant we went to last time? Or I know a good Italian restaurant, but I’m worried that Jeong might feel sick.”
“Ah… I’m fine with anything……. You can eat whatever President wants to eat.”
“Then let’s go to the place we went to before. It suited Jeong’s taste.”
“Yes……”
Whether he did it without realizing it, Ryu Jeong peeked out his red tongue and licked his lower lip. It had only been a few hours since he had bitten and sucked on that tongue until it was swollen, but he wanted to suck on it again, and saliva naturally gathered in his mouth. He inhaled, feeling sorry for the tongue that had slipped back into his mouth. Then, he suddenly realized that it wasn’t Ryu Jeong who was disappointed that he couldn’t do it like yesterday, but himself, and he swallowed a hollow laugh.
He wanted to hurry to see Ryu Jeong stuffing food into his cheeks until they were bulging, but only his pheromones had stabilized, and his body, which had been relentlessly pushed all night, hadn’t recovered, so Lee Do-hyeon slowly slowed down his pace.