Doctor Woo spoke lightly, as if it were nothing, but that didn’t make the content of his words any less significant.
“I explained that the Switch Director Seo gave Young Master didn’t seem to suit him, so it’s necessary to share Pheromones until Young Master’s condition stabilizes. Of course, Director Seo understood what I meant.”
What the hell…! Joo Tae-hyun barely managed to stop himself from shouting. Perhaps because he was so tense, he could even hear his jaw grinding. Was that even possible? Seo Baek-han believed such a flimsy excuse?
“…Doctor, just because the medicine Hyung gave me doesn’t suit me, doesn’t mean we have to have sex, or whatever you call it, Pheromone exchange.”
“Oh, no, that’s not it. It’s true that Young Master’s body has become sensitive because of the Switch Director Seo gave him, and it’s also true that the symptoms disappeared after he was with Director Seo.”
In this frustrating situation where nothing had been properly revealed, the only solution where Joo Tae-hyun showed improvement was the Pheromone exchange with Seo Baek-han. Doctor Woo argued that as his doctor, not mentioning it would only arouse Seo Baek-han’s suspicion.
“Of course, Director Seo may feel uneasy about some parts, but since he’s the one who gave you the Switch, he won’t be able to openly object. By the way, how are you feeling now? Much better than before, right?”
It was a roundabout way of asking if his Heat wasn’t raging as much as before, even though he was in his home filled with Director Seo’s Pheromones.
“As I suspected, I think Pheromone exchange with an Imprinting partner through sex was effective for Young Master.”
“……”
“I’ll collect as much information as possible about cases where unilateral Imprinting has been broken, so Young Master, don’t worry about anything else and just focus on your health.”
“He’s a specialist in genetics and the youngest Royal Hospital director… If I really did unilaterally Imprint on Hyung, he’ll realize it soon.”
“Well, what can we do? First of all, I’ve already refused all the tests and treatments they’re pushing for, saying that Young Master’s condition has become unstable because of the Switch Director Seo gave him.”
“Pardon?”
“So, after I leave, if Director Seo tries to argue about something, just say it’s all because of the medicine he gave you. That son of a bitch…!”
Doctor Woo, who had been trying to describe the situation as brightly and cheerfully as possible in case Joo Tae-hyun panicked, inadvertently let out a violent curse at the end.
“Ahem, I’m sorry. But I’m so angry that a guy over thirty would do that to our baby Young Master.”
Indeed, Doctor Woo literally went wild until Joo Tae-hyun regained his senses. The sly servants of the Seo family, their doctor, and even Seo Baek-han were slightly taken aback.
Even if it was to calm down the pseudo-Heat, still. To make a healthy Alpha’s body look like this. How much effort did I and the medical staff, and the people at DH Group put in to make our Young Master this healthy!
What upset Doctor Woo even more was that he couldn’t find any traces of them indulging in each other’s pleasure. He carefully examined Joo Tae-hyun’s body, but apart from the colorful bruises around his buttocks and thighs, he didn’t find any lingering signs of lovemaking.
‘You know, Doctor. I saw another Alpha for the first time a few days ago.’
‘Oh, really? Did you feel uncomfortable because of the Pheromones?’
‘No, it was great!’
‘Huh? You liked the Pheromones of another Alpha?’
‘Yes! Do you know that Hyung, by any chance? His name is Baek-han hyung…’
He had no interest in the gossip of the chaebol families, but Doctor Woo also knew that Joo Tae-hyun had feelings for Seo Baek-han. Ever since the baby Young Master first met Seo Baek-han at the age of twelve, he had timidly talked about him at every regular checkup, so he couldn’t help but know.
‘Doctor, I took a Switch the day before yesterday. A Dirty Switch.’
‘……Excuse me?’
‘I’ll explain later, but can you do a drug reaction test? I’m curious if it shows the exact same reaction as when I take drugs.’
He knew that even when he insisted on marrying Seo Baek-han for unavoidable reasons at the age of twenty, it was because he liked him, regardless of taking the Switch. Like Joo Tae-hyun’s family, Doctor Woo also pretended not to know.
As for the Switch-related laws, he could help him somehow, even if he didn’t marry Seo Baek-han. Rather, it might have been more advantageous for DH Group to solidify their alliance in other ways.
However, he felt sorry for the young Young Master, who seemed to want to live with the person he liked, even in that way. Because the baby Young Master, who had been silent and mature like an adult since some point, was asking for something like this.
And above all, because he had no doubt that Joo Tae-hyun would be loved, no matter how it started.
That’s why he participated in twenty-year-old Joo Tae-hyun’s clumsy marriage plan with a heavy heart.
“Young Master. It may be an overstepping intervention, but in my opinion-.”
Knock knock.
The moment Doctor Woo steeled his heart and opened his mouth, someone knocked on the door. At the same time, Joo Tae-hyun’s eyes trembled slightly. It was obvious who would come here at this timing.
A moderate decibel that was neither too loud nor too quiet, a sound that wasn’t rude but didn’t feel polite either. It was the appearance of a tiring man who made so many inferences possible with just a knock.
“Yes, you can come in.”
The timing of the door opening was perfect. As if he had planned to barge in even if Doctor Woo didn’t allow it.
“There’s a meeting soon, but I thought I should talk to Tae-hyun before that.”
With that, Seo Baek-han smiled faintly, and that was all.
He didn’t seem angry, nor did he feel coldly sarcastic.
Just… Seo Baek-han was the same as usual.
“Ah, yes… I, uh, shared the contents I mentioned earlier with our Young Master. You can come to Seoul and get tested together as soon as your schedule is adjusted.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Doctor Woo stood up and patted Joo Tae-hyun on the shoulder. It was Doctor Woo’s unique way of comforting him, telling him not to worry, as he had done when he was young. However, the warmth of the kind person quickly faded, only making him realize that he was alone again.
“…Joo Tae-hyun.”
Even when called, Joo Tae-hyun stubbornly stared at his feet.
Perhaps because he didn’t expect Joo Tae-hyun to answer willingly in the first place, Seo Baek-han sat down on the edge of the bed without concern.
“We have something to talk about.”
* * *
─ Anyway, Seung-pil! If you don’t transfer this time, I’ll kick you out of the family register!
“Ugh…”
Cheon Seung-pil only stared at the phone screen that he had already moved far away from him, and only after the call ended did he puff up his lips like a beast snorting.
After all, he was doomed to fail in his studies. Even though he had lived in the United States for so long, he still had difficulty speaking English beyond everyday life. But his parents didn’t give up and were strongly urging him to transfer. Transfer to what? He was still far from graduating from community college.
With Joo Tae-hyun’s help, Cheon Seung-pil barely managed to get into a vocational college in Jersey City. It was called a college, but it was smaller than the language school he used to attend.
But his parents were overjoyed. Furthermore, they kept pushing him to transfer to a better college, and then transfer again, and so on, with the goal of getting a degree from the State University of New York after several washes, so Cheon Seung-pil was starting to regret setting foot in college.
“Sigh. That’s only possible when Joo Tae-hyun grabs me by the collar and drags me along, what can I do alone…”
“Joo Tae-hyun?”
“What, what is it? Shit.”
Because someone suddenly appeared and accurately recited Joo Tae-hyun’s name, Cheon Seung-pil was startled and quickly turned around.
“I knew it. Hey! I don’t have any stories to tell, so get lost, you reporter bastard.”
Since the rather noisy wedding announcement a few years ago, there had been quite a few reporters who had come all the way to the United States to dig up Joo Tae-hyun’s stories, so Cheon Seung-pil also retorted sharply. He thought it had calmed down a bit after Joo Tae-hyun went back to Korea, but is it happening again?
“Reporter? I’m PJ’s son.”
“PJ? What’s that?”
“Ah, uh, um. Would you know it if I said Poongjin Industries? They recently changed the group name when they went public.”
A greasy-faced man who looked like he would use English names like Jameson or John, who would scam innocent international students or Koreans, smiled awkwardly while shaking his wrist. The diamond-studded gold watch on his chubby wrist flashed obnoxiously.
“My name is Kim Seung-jun, do you have some time? I won’t bother you.”