By Zephyria “What is that sound…. Mmm….”
In the middle of the night, Yumin woke up to voices tickling his ears. His whole body felt heavy as lead, so his eyes wouldn’t open properly; only his ears were alert.
“Yes, it’s here. Mr. Park left it properly. Understood.”
Outside the bedroom door, Tae-jun seemed to be on the phone with someone. Though he couldn’t hear clearly, Tae-jun’s voice was quite serious.
Who was he talking to like this in the middle of the night? Even as his mind was hazy, Yumin felt a surge of curiosity.
“Ugh… By the way… it hurts so much….”
Last night’s sex had been too intense, so Yumin’s lower back ached as if he’d been whipped. His throat, which had been screaming all night, was also hoarse and sore. He managed to force out a voice and called out to Tae-jun outside the door.
“Tae-jun-ah….”
The door immediately opened, and Tae-jun appeared.
“You’re awake?”
“Yeah, I’m thirsty.”
“I figured you would be. Just a moment.”
Soon after, Tae-jun entered the room carrying a small tray. Next to a ceramic cup filled with warm water was a small dish, piled high with medicinal pills. They were black in color and emitted a strong herbal scent.
“What is this?”
“It’s medicine. I prepared it in case you caught a cold.”
“I’ve never seen it before…. It doesn’t look like something you buy.”
“Ah, our family’s doctor is a traditional Korean medicine practitioner. He made this as a standby medicine for us. It’s good to take beforehand when you feel a cold coming on.”
“I see. Thank you.”
“Take it right away. Quickly.”
Yumin’s heart melted. He was touched by Tae-jun’s thoughtful care. Until now, the only medicine he had given Tae-jun was for fertility, but Tae-jun had prepared precious medicine, worrying that Yumin might catch a cold. He was truly a man not to be missed.
Yumin began taking the pills with warm water. They tasted extremely bitter.
“Ugh, this is awful.”
“Still, swallow it. It’s good for you.”
“Okay.”
As Yumin finished the pills, Tae-jun stroked his head.
“Good job. Want a candy?”
“Yes.”
Tae-jun sat Yumin on his lap and then found his lips, kissing him.
“How is it? Sweet, right?”
Yumin was disarmed by his playful smile.
“Yes. It’s delicious. Give me one more.”
“No. It’s expensive.”
“What do you mean?”
Yumin cupped Tae-jun’s face and kissed him.
He had been worried about catching a cold earlier, but after taking the medicine, his body felt warm and invigorated.
Was it thanks to Tae-jun’s devotion, or the medicine’s efficacy? It didn’t matter which. What was important was that he felt better.
And so, Yumin ended up taking two kinds of medicine. A tonic prescribed by his cousin Hyung, and the pills made by Tae-jun’s family doctor. Unaware of what results these two medicines might bring when they met inside his body, Yumin was overjoyed.
“My body feels so warm.”
Tae-jun’s hand fondled Yumin’s buttocks, then squeezed them tightly. Yumin, pretending to resist, wrapped his arms around Tae-jun’s neck.
“It’s not just there that’s warm….”
“Inside too?”
“I don’t know. You check.”
Yumin slid onto the bed and laughed, tickled, as Tae-jun covered him. He felt increasingly excited, and his insides burned. Even though he was on the bottom today, it was like taking one step back to advance two. He would humor Tae-jun today and take the lead next time. Thinking this, Yumin willingly spread his legs and moaned.
The penetration was more intense than usual, but Yumin writhed and shook his hips until dawn. It was the first time he had kept pace with Tae-jun without tiring during their many encounters. Even as it turned 4 or 5 in the morning, Yumin didn’t tire, panting with Tae-jun. He even climbed on top of Tae-jun and shook his hips.
“Haa… So, mmm… good….”
Seeing Yumin’s ecstatic face today, Tae-jun smiled wryly. The medicine seemed to be working faster than expected. It was good that he had brought him here.
The next day, the weather cleared up as if the rain from yesterday had been a lie. Waking up in Tae-jun’s arms, Yumin was drawn by the bright view outside the window and went out to the garden early in the morning. Taking in the fresh air after a long time, he felt his body and mind, weary from city life, being purified.
“This is so nice. I want to live somewhere like this.”
“Really? Do you prefer the countryside over the city?”
“Yes.”
“Your hometown must have been a place with clean nature too.”
“My home is deep in the mountains.”
“Hmm… It would be nice to visit together sometime.”
Tae-jun said, holding Yumin’s hand and gently lacing their fingers. However, Yumin’s expression turned grim.
“I’d like that too….”
“Huh?”
“It seems difficult. It would be hard.”
Tae-jun frowned at the sudden rejection.
‘He likes me this much, yet he’s so secretive about his own story. Especially when his family comes up, he just changes the subject. He’s never even told me exactly where he’s from.’
Yumin never spoke much about his home. The only information he had provided was that his home wasn’t in Seoul, that he was from the countryside, not the city, and that his cousins lived in Seoul.
That wasn’t the only thing that bothered him. When he had run into a cousin at a restaurant before, Yumin had tried to drive him away. It wasn’t just a bad relationship; he had given off the nuance that he wanted the cousin to leave as quickly as possible. He even seemed like he wanted to shut the cousin’s mouth on the spot.
‘Why? Is there a secret I’m not supposed to know?’
This relationship had clearly started because Yumin liked him first, yet Tae-jun knew so little about Yumin. Tae-jun wondered if Yumin was playing hard to get.
If you looked closely, Yumin used strange dating techniques he must have learned somewhere. If he was trying to create an air of mystery with clumsy tactics, he had completely misjudged.
‘Go Yumin, do you think I’ll just go along with it? Absolutely not. Instead, I’ll make you restless. I’ll make you reveal yourself, wanting me to know who you are, so just wait.’
Unaware of Yumin’s inner turmoil, Tae-jun was barking up the wrong tree.
The filming, which began around noon, concluded smoothly. The director repeatedly expressed his gratitude, saying it was all thanks to Tae-jun. He kept trying to hand Tae-jun business cards, urging him to audition for actors, but Tae-jun politely refused.
The assistant cameramen, who were returning to Seoul early, boarded the shuttle bus, and Yumin got into Tae-jun’s car.
Go Yumin
Juwan-ah, I’m done now.
You’re already finished? It ended much faster than I thought.
Go Yumin
Yeah. Thanks to Tae-jun stepping in, filming wrapped up quickly. Oh, right, you were the one who told me about this location, weren’t you?
“Hah, so he chased after me after all…. What a persistent guy.”
Juwan looked at the screen with a sour expression, then flipped his phone face down on the table with a loud clatter. The already grim atmosphere intensified as he furrowed his brow and shook his head.
He was currently at his family home on the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province. His house was a luxurious residence with a sprawling lawn, complete with a security guard at the main gate and a gardener, exuding an incredibly lavish ambiance.
Yet, Juwan, the sole heir of such a wealthy family, wore a look of utter dissatisfaction. He was leisurely drinking coffee under a canopy set up in the best spot in the middle of the garden, but inside, he was seething.
If he hadn’t been suddenly summoned to his family home, he would have been flirting with Yumin right now. Unfortunately, he had missed his chance. He could have doted on the naive Go Yumin and made sure he ate his snacks regularly, and maybe Yumin would have fallen for him completely, damn it.
Juwan stirred his iced coffee on the table and drank it down in one gulp. As he was sighing heavily, the gate opened, and a car drove in. It was a luxury sedan, elegant at first glance. The car stopped, and a woman got out. She was a beautiful older woman, about four or five years older than Juwan. Juwan looked at her with distaste, but she approached him confidently, unfazed.
“Have you been well?”
“Ah, yes. So-so.”
“What’s with that expression when your fiancé is right in front of you?”
“What’s wrong with my expression?”
Juwan grumbled in response. He yawned openly.
“The elders are inside. Let’s go in. I’m going to go take a nap.”
“What?”
“I’m sleepy. See you later.”
Leaving the woman, Juwan got up and headed into the main house. As he went up to his room, his face contorted.
He knew that Beastmen couldn’t just date freely, but to be given a fiancé so arbitrarily. Why did he have to marry someone predetermined? Couldn’t he just date whoever he wanted and sleep with whoever he felt like?
Go Yumin’s adorable face flashed before his eyes. His fair skin, his sharp eyes, his clumsy actions and gestures. He missed Go Yumin, who was so cute he wanted to tease him all day. Thinking he should reply to Yumin again, Juwan opened his phone. But then, a message from Tae-jun arrived.
Beom Tae-jun
Thanks to you, I had a good time with Yumin. How can I repay this favor?
“Hah! You bastard!”
Juwan scowled and gritted his teeth.
Are you messing with me right now, Beom Tae-jun?
Beom Tae-jun
ㅋㅋㅋ
Tae-jun’s blatant teasing made Juwan furious, driving him to the brink of madness. In fact, this morning, Juwan had half-threatened Tae-jun into spilling all the details about the movie shoot. The condition was that Tae-jun would keep secret the fact that Juwan was obsessed with Yumin and was following him around, neglecting his fiancé.
Juwan, who feared his parents more than ghosts, had no choice but to accept the terms.
“Annoying Beom Tae-jun, you haven’t changed a bit since back then.”
He and Tae-jun had known each other since childhood through family gatherings. Specifically, gatherings for special Beastman families. Juwan’s family was a mixed-blood clan that worshipped the Wolf God. Just as Tae-jun’s family was composed of those born between the Tiger God and humans, Juwan’s lineage was of wolf blood.
The two families had been rivals for a long time, and their natures were antagonistic. However, they were also considered friendly competitors, so the parents naturally brought their children together under the guise of fostering competition. Juwan and Tae-jun were always bickering whenever they met. They didn’t even acknowledge each other when they ended up at the same university.
It was unfortunate that they were both attracted to the same person. Go Yumin, with his soft, fluffy cuteness. The thought of a love triangle over him gave Juwan a headache. Beom Tae-jun always tried to be superior to Juwan, and he actually was, possessing more than enough ability to do so.
“Yumin-ah, are you done washing up?”
“No, not yet.”
“Okay. Take your time and come out.”
Meanwhile, Tae-jun sat leisurely on the sofa and sent another message to Juwan.
Do you know where Yumin is right now? He’s at my place. In the bathroom, no less.
Lee Juwan
Shut up!
Tae-jun was beside himself with joy at Juwan’s reply. This wasn’t the end; he was plotting to make Yumin his forever, and if Juwan knew about that, he would surely go insane. The thought alone was delightful.
There was one more person who took an unusual interest in the relationship between Tae-jun and Yumin. Yumin hadn’t noticed yet, but a secret gaze had been following them for days. It was his cousin, Go Seong-min.
“Go Yumin, it’s about time you showed up, isn’t it? If you’re with that handsome guy again, I’ll report you to the elders immediately.”
Hiding in the bushes opposite the business college building, Seong-min cackled maliciously. He wore a black cap pulled low and scanned left and right ten times a minute, his nerves on edge, waiting for Yumin to appear.
It was Seong-min who had reported Yumin’s improper association with the Beom family’s son to Yumin’s uncle. While investigating the handsome guy, he had coincidentally learned he was from the Beom family and had rushed to report it, earning Seong-min a monetary reward from the clan association.
Excited, Seong-min began stalking Yumin, monitoring his every move. Yumin was not only spending all day with someone from the forbidden Beom family but even let him into his dorm room. Overcome with envy and jealousy, Seong-min scratched his claws like a scratching post.
‘I’m going to date him. I’m going to have that handsome guy!’
While he wanted to block Yumin’s path, Seong-min was also captivated by the incredibly handsome Tae-jun. If he broke up the relationship between the two, he would snatch Tae-jun away and mate with him. Wouldn’t that be killing two birds with one stone? Seong-min’s mind was filled with schemes.
“Heh heh… It’s not long now. I’ll take good care of you.”
Seong-min gnashed his teeth fiercely and took out a telescope from his pocket. Just then, someone suddenly touched his shoulder from behind.
“Excuse me.”
“Hk!”
Startled by the unexpected presence, Seong-min dropped the telescope. Turning around, he saw a tall, pale-faced man looking down at him with a cold expression.
“W-who are you…!”
“And who are you, hiding here?”
“I-I’m just passing by. Why?”
“Doesn’t look like it. You’ve been lurking in front of this building for the past few days.”
“H-how do you know….”
“You only appear at specific times, so I noticed a pattern. You’re following Yumin, aren’t you?”
“What? Who’s Yumin?”
“My friend. I’m Seo Hyeon-seok, a classmate of Go Yumin. Let’s talk.”
Hyeon-seok glared at Seong-min with icy eyes. Seong-min, suddenly shrinking, began to tremble. If this man was Go Yumin’s friend, he would surely report his stalking activities. And Go Yumin, with his bad temper, wouldn’t let it slide. Furthermore, he would create a thorough protective barrier to prevent his handsome boyfriend from being stolen. Seong-min didn’t want that.
“W-wait a minute…! I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I do know Yumin, but I didn’t come to see him. Actually, my business is….”
“Then what is your business?”
“I came to see… you. I’ve been watching you….”
“What?”
Hyeon-seok let out a disbelieving laugh. Seong-min lowered his head, putting on his most pathetic expression. He had told a big lie to escape the immediate crisis.
Yumin went to the business college cafeteria to meet Tae-jun and his eyes widened. If his vision wasn’t failing him, the person sitting at a table in the distance was Seong-min, and Hyeon-seok was with him.
‘Why is Go Seong-min here? And why is Hyeon-seok with him?’
The distance made it hard to hear their conversation. Yumin covered his face and moved to a table closer to them. Being feline, he had good hearing, and by concentrating, he could overhear their conversation. The content was shocking.
“So, Seong-min, you’re saying Yumin shouldn’t meet Tae-jun?”
“Yes. Absolutely not. The elders aren’t speaking nonsense.”
“And the reason is… because he’ll inevitably face misfortune?”
“Yes. Especially if they get sexually involved, it’s a big deal. If they even have a child, the sky will fall?!”
Pfft. Hyeon-seok spat out the coffee he was drinking.
“A child? They’re both men, how can they have a child? Don’t say ridiculous things.”
“Why is it ridiculous? If they set their minds to it, they can definitely have one.”
“What on earth are you talking about? Didn’t you have sex education at school? XY cannot create a child.”
As Hyeon-seok said irritably, Seong-min realized his mistake and covered his mouth.
“Hk.”
“…Why are you reacting like that?”
“Hyeon-seok, you don’t know anything?”
“…What?”
Hyeon-seok, sensing a subtle anomaly in Seong-min’s reaction, seemed to have caught on. He was, after all, very perceptive and quick-witted.
Yumin, with his back to them, felt cold sweat trickle down his spine. Based on what Seong-min was saying, he was implying that pregnancy was possible between Tae-jun and Yumin.
‘Go Seong-min, shut up. How far are you going to go?’