By Zephyria Do Yi-hyun always woke up at exactly the same time, no matter when he slept. It was the same even when he suffered severe insomnia due to morning sickness.
‘…What is this?’
Slowly opening his eyes, Do Yi-hyun felt something strange. His body was heavy like waterlogged cotton, and his head was foggy, not working properly. Half-asleep, Do Yi-hyun groped the bed, searching for the warmth that had kept him warm all night.
The familiar pheromones shimmered vividly around him, but the person who had been beside him had disappeared somewhere. Only the cool, chilled sheets remained.
‘Where did he go?’
His bloodless lips pressed tightly together, and a vague displeasure rose on his neat face. He wasn’t in a good mood at all.
“Lee Hyun, you’ll be late at this rate.”
Then, a voice tinged with laughter came from behind. Do Yi-hyun reflexively turned his head. He saw a man in a faint brown suit with a grayish hue, wearing a neatly tied green tie.
The man curved his distinct lips into a tender smile.
‘Pretty.’
Still drowsy, Do Yi-hyun blinked as he stared straight at the man. The soft suit color harmonized well with his wavy ash-brown hair.
“What’s with sleeping in? Even on weekends, you wake up at dawn.”
The man sitting on the edge of the bed gently stroked Do Yi-hyun’s cheek. As if pleased that Do Yi-hyun couldn’t easily regain his senses, the smile on his lips deepened.
“Was it that hard yesterday? Is it because it’s been a while?”
The hand that had been subtly caressing Do Yi-hyun’s ear trailed down his nape. The man murmured languidly and gently rubbed Do Yi-hyun’s collarbone with his thumb. Thanks to the sharp pain, Do Yi-hyun gradually shook off his sleepiness.
“…Executive Director.”
Only then did Do Yi-hyun realize that the beautiful man before him was Seo Jeong-woon. A strange thought suddenly occurred to him: perhaps he had known instinctively even before recognizing him.
“Jeong, Woon, Darling.”
Seo Jeong-woon shook his head and enunciated each syllable clearly. Sometimes, he seemed obsessed with the name as if he had a grudge against it.
“What time is it now?”
Ignoring Seo Jeong-woon’s demand, Do Yi-hyun pressed his temples firmly.
“Eight o’clock. You can take your time getting ready.”
At Seo Jeong-woon’s following words, Do Yi-hyun sprang up as if he had been slumped over.
‘Eight o’clock?’
He remembered the dimly rising sun just before falling asleep. No matter what, sleeping in was unlike him.
“I should get going.”
Do Yi-hyun hurriedly pushed aside the thick blanket. It took about 20 minutes from Seo Jeong-woon’s house to the company. But there was barely enough time to stop by home and change clothes.
“Just go straight to work from here.”
As if anticipating Do Yi-hyun would try to leave like he was running away, Seo Jeong-woon quickly grabbed his wrist.
“I hung a suit to change into in the dressing room. It should fit you perfectly, so don’t worry.”
He shook Do Yi-hyun’s arm playfully and wrinkled his nose.
“Why is that there?”
“Hmm. In preparation for times like this?”
When Do Yi-hyun looked at him suspiciously, Seo Jeong-woon tilted his head with an innocent expression.
“…Thank you.”
He didn’t like the playful attitude, but there was no time to banter with Seo Jeong-woon. Do Yi-hyun obediently accepted the proposal, whether it was Seo Jeong-woon’s kindness or a prank. After washing up quickly, Do Yi-hyun frowned at his reflection in the mirror.
From his shoulders to his chest, stomach, and thighs. Blotchy red marks were scattered all over. He knew it was a mess, but seeing it sober made it even worse.
“Ah, Lee Hyun.”
As I stared at the vivid marks, Seo Jeong-woon’s excited voice involuntarily came to mind. Along with it, his face, flushed red to the corners of his eyes, flickered in and out of my thoughts. If I kept looking at these blatant marks, something troublesome might happen.
Do Yi-hyun forced himself to look away. Still, it wasn’t as severe as the traces left the day after a one-night stand, so they would likely fade in a few days. Do Yi-hyun, with a towel wrapped around his waist, entered the dressing room attached to the bedroom.
Seo Jeong-woon seemed to be out in the living room or kitchen. In the center of the neatly organized dressing room hung clothes for Do Yi-hyun to wear. Do Yi-hyun preferred classic suit fits, but what Seo Jeong-woon had prepared had a subtly softer silhouette.
It was a gray shade, neither too dark nor too bright, exuding a unique atmosphere. A red-toned tie and an expensive-looking watch were also placed there. Do Yi-hyun picked up only the tie, not even glancing at the watch.
“All ready.”
“Shall we go then?”
When Do Yi-hyun appeared in the living room, Seo Jeong-woon raised an eyebrow. He tapped his own hair with his index finger. In response, Do Yi-hyun indifferently swept back the neatly settled hair above his forehead.
The bangs covering his distinct eyebrows moved aside, briefly revealing his straight forehead before disappearing again.
“Couldn’t find the wax? Should I fix it for you?”
Seo Jeong-woon, who had strode right up to Do Yi-hyun, looked at the naturally disheveled hair with a dissatisfied expression.
“It’s fine. Let’s get going.”
Do Yi-hyun shook his head. Although it had only taken 20 minutes to get ready quickly, Do Yi-hyun didn’t like arriving at work just barely on time. He’d rather go early, even without styling his hair, for peace of mind.
“Lee Hyun.”
Seo Jeong-woon called out reproachfully, but Do Yi-hyun ignored him and headed for the entrance. Seo Jeong-woon, letting out a deep sigh, followed behind Do Yi-hyun. From the elevator, he stared intently, and even after getting in the car, he didn’t start the engine, instead looking at Do Yi-hyun with a peculiar expression.
“We’ll be late if we keep this up.”
“Sigh. Can’t be helped.”
As Do Yi-hyun briefly frowned, Seo Jeong-woon shook his head side to side and handed over a paper bag he was holding.
“What’s this?”
“You should eat breakfast.”
Looking inside, there was a sandwich cut in half. It seemed homemade and quite appetizing.
“I wanted to kiss you before we left.”
Seo Jeong-woon grumbled while turning the steering wheel. Do Yi-hyun took a big bite of the sandwich and glared at him. Did he think it wasn’t enough even after pouring out so much pheromone last night?
“Today, don’t go anywhere else and stay quietly in the office.”
“I’ll handle my own work.”
Do Yi-hyun, who had been silent, openly showed his discomfort. He could tolerate other kinds of pressure, but meddling in work matters was something he declined.
“It’s not that…….”
Seo Jeong-woon moved his lips, then closed them discontentedly.
“I’m too weak when it comes to you, Lee Hyun. It’s a problem.”
Then he added an absurd statement. Do Yi-hyun almost dropped the sandwich he was holding.
***
“Team Leader Do?”
“Yes.”
“Wow, I didn’t recognize you for a second. You seem different from usual.”
A passing employee widened their eyes and made a fuss.
“You saw Hyeju too, right?”
Do Yi-hyun nodded indifferently and walked past, but chatter continued behind him. Just because he’d let his hair down, ever since riding the elevator with Seo Jeong-woon in the morning, everyone he met made dazed expressions. It seemed quite surprising to see Do Yi-hyun, who was always immaculate, showing a disheveled appearance.
That wasn’t all.
“Here you go.”
Do Yi-hyun extended the approval documents toward his team member. However, the member didn’t take the offered documents and just stared blankly at Do Yi-hyun.
“Kim Ji-woo, what are you doing?”
Do Yi-hyun, having checked his employee ID, furrowed his brow. The hair covering his forehead was already bothering his vision.
“Ah, yes, yes. Sorry.”
Kim Ji-woo, red to the nape of his neck, scurried back to his seat like he was running away. Even Lee Tae-jun from the sales department, who belonged to a different floor and usually had no reason to cross paths, made time to come see Do Yi-hyun.
“Darling. The rumors were true?”
Lee Tae-jun, holding his employee ID right up to Do Yi-hyun’s nose, grinned with an interested expression. Do Yi-hyun swallowed a sigh. Of all times, he ran into him just as he was leaving the office for a walk.
Lee Tae-jun naturally trailed along behind Do Yi-hyun.
“What are you here for?”
“Curious, of course. Everyone’s making such a fuss.”
It was meant as a hint to go back, but Lee Tae-jun shamelessly shrugged and stood next to Do Yi-hyun. He seemed intent on not leaving until his curiosity was satisfied. Do Yi-hyun ignored Lee Tae-jun and headed for the garden as originally planned.
Lee Tae-jun could treat Do Yi-hyun casually because he had no desire to get close. The only feeling he harbored toward Do Yi-hyun was curiosity about his unique personality. Most people were put off by Do Yi-hyun’s indifferent attitude, so those remaining around him were often oddly twisted types like Seo Jeong-woon, Joo Na-hye, and Lee Tae-jun.
Upon arriving at the garden, Lee Tae-jun openly looked Do Yi-hyun up and down.
“Having some change of heart lately? You keep doing things you never did.”
“I just overslept.”
Do Yi-hyun swept back his hair blowing in the wind. He didn’t understand why people were so desperate to mind others’ business.
“……Overslept? You?”
Lee Tae-jun recoiled in shock. And for good reason; Do Yi-hyun had never been late once since the day he joined the company. Even if he pulled an all-nighter at work, he would always stop by home in the early morning and reappear perfectly neat the next day.
After briefly enjoying the breeze, Do Yi-hyun returned to the office, leaving behind Lee Tae-jun who was noisily asking this and that.
“Team Leader Do, you didn’t put your hair up today?”
“No.”
Stopped by another employee he didn’t recognize, Do Yi-hyun replied curtly and moved on. It wasn’t just curiosity; because they kept talking to him, it was at least three times more annoying than usual. Other times, they usually wouldn’t approach him, but it seemed a simple change in hairstyle made his image appear very different.
[Executive Seo Jeong-woon: Come up when it’s lunchtime]
A message from Seo Jeong-woon arrived as he neared the office.
[Didn’t we decide to go to the company cafeteria today?]
Yesterday during lunch, when Seo Jeong-woon asked what they should eat tomorrow, Do Yi-hyun had answered indifferently that they should go to the cafeteria. He wanted to minimize their time alone together. Seo Jeong-woon had readily agreed with a smile, but something must have bothered him, as he went back on his word within a day.
[Executive Seo Jeong-woon: No]
Seo Jeong-woon followed up by sending a round rabbit emoticon looking sulky.
‘What does he want me to do?’
Do Yi-hyun looked down at his phone, feeling awkward. It wasn’t particularly to his liking, but there was no compelling reason to insist on the cafeteria. Judging by his firm tone, Seo Jeong-woon seemed determined.
Do Yi-hyun had no choice but to go along with Seo Jeong-woon’s whim.
***
“Did anyone bother you?”
The moment he entered the executive office, Seo Jeong-woon sharply lifted his head and glared at Do Yi-hyun.
“Right now, Executive-nim, you are bothering me.”
Do Yi-hyun replied indifferently and pushed Seo Jeong-woon’s shoulder away.
“I’m an exception.”
Seo Jeong-woon had already changed his expression, smiling slyly as he tried to pull Do Yi-hyun into a hug. Do Yi-hyun ignored him and strode inside.
“Lee Hyun, you didn’t listen to what I said this morning.”
Seo Jeong-woon followed closely behind Do Yi-hyun, grumbling sulkily. Yet he persistently wrapped his arms around Do Yi-hyun’s waist.
“Huh?”
“I told you not to go anywhere and stay put, but I heard you were wandering around here and there.”
Seo Jeong-woon rested his chin on Do Yi-hyun’s shoulder, whining as if scolding him. Do Yi-hyun narrowed his eyes. How on earth did he find out about that?
“What does that…… Why are you doing this?”
Do Yi-hyun, who was about to ask what it mattered, realized it was the kind of question Seo Jeong-woon disliked and quickly changed his words. Telling him to stay put in one place? It was an utterly incomprehensible request.
“Everyone only looks at you, Lee Hyun. I don’t like that.”
Seo Jeong-woon pouted and rubbed his cheek against Do Yi-hyun’s shoulder.
‘He’s talking nonsense again.’
But Do Yi-hyun calmly looked down at Seo Jeong-woon’s round crown. Anyone seeing this might think he was jealous. He had seemed in a bad mood since arriving at the office this morning; it appeared he was upset because the employees showed interest in Do Yi-hyun first.
It was laughable. In the end, even the employees who were initially curious about Do Yi-hyun eventually poured their attention onto Seo Jeong-woon.
‘Is his pride hurt?’
It seemed Seo Jeong-woon even disliked having that brief moment of attention taken away. He truly had an endlessly troublesome personality.
“Going to make that face again?”
Seo Jeong-woon playfully glared at Do Yi-hyun and poked his cheek. Not knowing what ‘that face’ meant, Do Yi-hyun touched the corner of his own mouth.
“You know, when I think about it, it seems like no matter what I say, you, Lee Hyun, suspect me first.”
Seo Jeong-woon lowered his long eyelashes and deliberately let out a sigh. His softly muttered voice sounded quite forlorn.
“That’s…….”
From Do Yi-hyun’s perspective, it was only natural. Seo Jeong-woon lied and made empty remarks as easily as eating meals. His trustworthiness couldn’t help but be eroded.
But Do Yi-hyun said nothing. He had realized that keeping his mouth shut was better than arguing with Seo Jeong-woon. After finishing their meal, the two naturally kissed.
“Haha, nice smell.”
Seo Jeong-woon, smiling faintly, playfully tapped Do Yi-hyun’s teeth. Do Yi-hyun calmly bit Seo Jeong-woon’s tongue tip. They used the same toothpaste, so there was no question of it smelling nice or not.
The image of the two clinging together on the sofa was reflected in a decorative piece. Do Yi-hyun unconsciously glanced at the shiny surface. He hadn’t noticed in the morning, but now he saw that his and Seo Jeong-woon’s suits had a somewhat similar vibe.
Although the decorations and details weren’t particularly alike, they gave the impression of being coordinated. The influence of the calm yet uncommon color scheme seemed significant.
“Focus on me.”
Seo Jeong-woon, who had cleverly noticed Do Yi-hyun’s distraction, grabbed his chin and lifted it.
“Hng…….”
As his head tilted back, his throat opened wide, and Seo Jeong-woon deeply thrust his tongue inside. Do Yi-hyun trembled, gripping Seo Jeong-woon’s firm forearm.
“Now, hah, stop, uhn…….”
As arousal gradually rose, Do Yi-hyun tried to push Seo Jeong-woon away as usual. But Seo Jeong-woon stubbornly pulled Do Yi-hyun’s waist closer and continued the kiss.
“Execu…tive, ah, uhhp.”
Whether he was fully determined or not, Seo Jeong-woon didn’t budge even when Do Yi-hyun twisted his waist. Slowly, Do Yi-hyun began to feel a tingling in his waist. What stopped Seo Jeong-woon’s rampage was Do Yi-hyun’s phone placed on the table.
Bzz. Bzz. At the short vibration sound, Seo Jeong-woon slowly turned his head.
[Choi Seon-woo: Hello, Lee Hyun Hyung! Can I drop by your company sometime soon? I’m free anytime, so just let me know comfortably. I think it’ll be more convenient if I come to you!]
Along with a large dog emoticon with sparkling eyes here and there, because his phone wasn’t separately locked, Choi Seon-woo’s message was displayed as is.
“Who is it?”
Seo Jeong-woon pressed his forehead against Do Yi-hyun’s and asked in a low, subdued tone.
“Someone I’m not close with.”
Do Yi-hyun evasively answered and picked up his phone.
“…….”
He thought Seo Jeong-woon would stop him from moving, but instead, Seo Jeong-woon silently watched Do Yi-hyun with an unreadable expression. Do Yi-hyun composed a message saying there was no need to come to the company and that he would go to Choi Seon-woo’s house over the weekend. He also planned to greet his stepfather while he was at it.
“You say you’re not close, but you’re going to his house?”
Seo Jeong-woon, peeking at Do Yi-hyun’s phone screen, asked back skeptically.
“And on the weekend?”
Seo Jeong-woon asked again in a reproachful tone, grabbing Do Yi-hyun’s wrist holding the phone. His grip was so strong it made his wrist tingle slightly, but Do Yi-hyun didn’t show it much.
“……There are circumstances.”
Do Yi-hyun replied indifferently, trying to cut off Seo Jeong-woon’s interest. But as expected, it didn’t work; Seo Jeong-woon furrowed his brow and tilted his head.
“Why are you being so vague, Lee Hyun? It makes me want to misunderstand more.”
Seo Jeong-woon’s gaze was sharp. It seemed he was worried that Do Yi-hyun might not keep to the terms, even though he himself had cut off other relationships. From Seo Jeong-woon’s perspective, who thought of children as dreadful, it might seem irresponsible for someone with pheromone rejection syndrome to be friendly with another Alpha.
“It’s absolutely not a relationship worthy of Executive-nim’s misunderstanding. There’s no need to worry.”
Not wanting to invite unnecessary suspicion, Do Yi-hyun stated it clearly. No matter how much of an Alpha he was, unless he was insane, he wouldn’t harbor strange feelings toward his stepbrother. Then, he suddenly became a little curious about how Seo Jeong-woon would react if he found out about his complicated relationship with Choi Seon-woo.
Of course, he had not the slightest intention of revealing his personal family affairs to Seo Jeong-woon.
“Right now, I’m not worried…….”
Seo Jeong-woon, trailing off ambiguously, let out deep sighs with a frustrated expression. Then he twisted his mouth crookedly.
“Just tell him to come to the company.”
“That would be more troublesome.”
Do Yi-hyun shook his head firmly. After meeting Choi Seon-woo last time, strange rumors spread within the company, and Seo Jeong-woon had sulked for quite a while. If another rumor started, who knew what he might do this time.
Just imagining it was annoying. Do Yi-hyun frowned.
“Tell him to come to the company.”
But Seo Jeong-woon repeated the same words with a picture-perfect smile. His static expression seemed to say this was the last chance. Do Yi-hyun stared at Seo Jeong-woon without answering.
It wasn’t a day or two since Seo Jeong-woon had been stubborn. But when he was being this obstinate without any basis, it was a bit irritating.
“We have plans on the weekend, don’t we?”
Seo Jeong-woon, acting as if making a legitimate request, confidently pulled Do Yi-hyun’s arm down. But such absurd logic couldn’t possibly work on Do Yi-hyun. Do Yi-hyun tightly pressed his lips together.
After all, their so-called plans were just spending one day of the weekend sleeping over at Seo Jeong-woon’s house. If Seo Jeong-woon didn’t make various excuses to keep him, there would be plenty of time to spare.
“Hmm?”
Seo Jeong-woon quickly changed his attitude to a gentle one, rubbing his cheek against Do Yi-hyun’s palm. It seemed he had judged that being forceful wouldn’t work.
“Can’t you not meet another Alpha besides me on the weekend?”
He pleaded with Do Yi-hyun quite pitifully. He even deliberately hunched his large frame to look up at Do Yi-hyun, as if wanting to appear pitiable.
“……Alright.”
In the end, Do Yi-hyun raised the white flag. He was aware that he was weaker than necessary toward Seo Jeong-woon, but he had no choice because he knew how difficult things would become if he didn’t comply with his demands and held out. Bending his own opinion under external pressure was something he just couldn’t get used to.
Do Yi-hyun furrowed his brow and moved his fingers.
[Then tomorrow is f]
“Tomorrow is no good.”
Seo Jeong-woon, leaning on Do Yi-hyun’s shoulder and looking at the phone, shook his head side to side.
‘What’s the problem now.’
Do Yi-hyun glanced down at the wavy ash-brown hair and pressed backspace. He had a lot he wanted to say, but it was clear that bringing it up now would only waste time.
[Then the day after tomorrow is]
“The day after tomorrow is no good either.”
But this time too, Seo Jeong-woon objected. He didn’t add any particular reason.
“……Executive-nim.”
“What.”
When Do Yi-hyun called out reproachfully, Seo Jeong-woon answered curtly and tightly hugged Do Yi-hyun’s waist. It seemed he was just being petulant.
“I’ll just meet him tomorrow.”
Do Yi-hyun unilaterally informed Seo Jeong-woon and quickly sent the message to Choi Seon-woo before he could interfere further.
“Ah, Lee Hyun.”
Seo Jeong-woon let out a pained groan and rubbed his forehead against Do Yi-hyun’s shoulder. Considering he was grumbling but not throwing a fit demanding cancellation, it was clear he was just being petulant. In the meantime, Do Yi-hyun had even set a time to meet at eight o’clock.
“I went through a lot of trouble to arrange one dinner with Lee Hyun.”
Seo Jeong-woon let out an exaggerated sigh. A hot breath touched the nape of his neck, sending shivers down his spine. The sensation, subtly reminiscent of arousal, made Do Yi-hyun grit his teeth.
“All done now?”
As soon as the last message was sent, Seo Jeong-woon snatched Do Yi-hyun’s phone and placed it face down on the table. Without giving him a chance to resist, he kissed him again.
“Hng, sudden, ah, ngh.”
Seo Jeong-woon abruptly captured Do Yi-hyun’s tongue and sucked on it forcefully. The base of his tongue felt sore from the pull. It was a subtle sensation—not exactly painful, but not exactly pleasant either.
Do Yi-hyun tried to pull away somehow, but Seo Jeong-woon clung stubbornly. As he kept trying to escape, an annoyed Seo Jeong-woon bit down on the soft tongue with his front teeth.
“Hng…!”
The sharp sensation sent a chill down Do Yi-hyun’s spine. Bzz. Bzz.
Do Yi-hyun’s phone rang again, likely with a reply from Choi Seon-woo. Do Yi-hyun, whose lips had been trembling, reflexively glanced at the phone lying face down.
“Don’t look.”
Seo Jeong-woon then covered Do Yi-hyun’s eyes with his large hand. He then proceeded to invade Do Yi-hyun’s mouth again, searching for his tongue. Through the darkened vision, the sound of wet kisses reached his ears.
With his sight gone, his other senses naturally became more acute. Starting from the rustle of clothing, the hand caressing his ear, to the intense pheromones—everything about Seo Jeong-woon was vividly conveyed through senses other than sight.
Seo Jeong-woon continued the kiss for a long time. Only when Do Yi-hyun thought his lips might swell did he finally let him go.
“Haa, haa.”
Do Yi-hyun glared at Seo Jeong-woon while catching his breath. He had deliberately finished work early because he disliked barely making it back to the office yesterday, but he ended up wasting all that free time on kissing.
“Darling, I missed you.”
Despite the cold stare, Seo Jeong-woon shamelessly stroked Do Yi-hyun’s stomach gently. He even went as far as undoing all the buttons on Do Yi-hyun’s vest. Do Yi-hyun frowned and slapped Seo Jeong-woon’s hand away, but it was no use.
“You heard it earlier too, right? Isn’t Dad being too much?”
As if still holding a grudge, Seo Jeong-woon began complaining to the baby about Do Yi-hyun. Even as he did so, his distinct lips curved into a gentle smile.
“Mom wants to be with our baby for a long, long time, but it seems Dad doesn’t.”
Do Yi-hyun clicked his tongue silently. Mom this, Dad that—it was unbearably embarrassing. Seo Jeong-woon glanced upward and then gently pressed his lips against Do Yi-hyun’s upper stomach.
“Ugh, Executive Director.”
“Don’t interrupt. I’m kissing our baby.”
Seo Jeong-woon firmly held Do Yi-hyun’s hips and kissed him, making soft smacking sounds. Through the thin layer of his shirt, he could feel the warmth and softness distinctly. Do Yi-hyun tried to push Seo Jeong-woon’s head away but ended up swiping at empty air.
It was because he suddenly remembered Seo Jeong-woon burying his face between his legs last night. Even when Do Yi-hyun, unable to endure it, grabbed his hair, Seo Jeong-woon didn’t stop the fellatio. He even smirked as if daring him to pull harder.
The smooth sensation of hair slipping through his fingers was still vivid. If he touched Seo Jeong-woon’s hair now, he felt like he might get hard. Do Yi-hyun bit his lower lip tightly.
Seo Jeong-woon’s pheromones were thick but calm. If he were to get an erection just from touching someone’s hair, especially in front of someone with no sexual intent, it would be utterly shameful.
“How could Dad look at another Alpha when he has a pretty Mom like me…?”
Seo Jeong-woon, who had been chattering noisily, suddenly fell silent. He rolled his eyes for a moment before abruptly lifting his head. Do Yi-hyun, feeling guilty, averted his gaze.
“…Speaking of which.”
Seo Jeong-woon opened his mouth with a troubled expression. He seemed to have something bothering him.
“You said Lee Hyun doesn’t remember my face, right?”
“Well…”
Do Yi-hyun nodded slowly. Thanks to his efforts to remember, the afterimage lingered longer than with others, but when he tried to recall Seo Jeong-woon’s face, that part alone remained blurry, as if smudged.
“Then, in Lee Hyun’s eyes, do I look similar to other people?”
Seo Jeong-woon tilted his head as if he couldn’t understand at all. His expression was undeniably serious.
“What do you think?”
“I’m serious right now.”
Seo Jeong-woon placed a hand on Do Yi-hyun’s shoulder and put on a stern face.
“…Not very different.”
“Ah, that won’t do.”
Seo Jeong-woon let out a sigh and anxiously rubbed his chin.
Why does it matter so much how I see him?
Do Yi-hyun blinked in confusion. Seo Jeong-woon seemed not just displeased but genuinely upset. It seemed his claim of being serious wasn’t a joke.
“Then, you don’t feel anything when you look at me?”
Seo Jeong-woon suddenly brought his face close to Do Yi-hyun’s. It was so close that if Do Yi-hyun lowered his head slightly, their lips would touch.
“…You sparkle.”
After quietly pondering, Do Yi-hyun blurted out.
“Huh?”
“Executive Director, you sparkle differently from others.”
Seo Jeong-woon had grumbled just because others’ gazes were briefly directed at Do Yi-hyun. If he said he looked the same as everyone else, Seo Jeong-woon would clearly be displeased.
It’s not a lie anyway.
Do Yi-hyun’s dark pupils dropped to the floor. It felt like he was making excuses to himself, but he tried to ignore it.
“What’s this?”
Seo Jeong-woon, who had briefly furrowed his brows, smiled faintly. He seemed to be trying to hide it, but the satisfaction was evident in his plump cheeks.
“Explain it in more detail, Lee Hyun.”
Seo Jeong-woon blinked and put on all sorts of pretty acts. Since he was still looking up at Do Yi-hyun from below, his fluttering eyelashes looked quite pitiful. Do Yi-hyun swallowed dryly and carefully observed Seo Jeong-woon.
Sunlight streaming through the wide window glistened brightly on his ash-brown hair, and his sharp eyes looked gentle, hidden behind a warm smile. His crescent-shaped eyes were clear and glossy, and his lips, full of color, formed a soft curve. His flawless, smooth skin was translucent.
Do Yi-hyun’s lips twitched. If he wanted to, he could have recited Seo Jeong-woon’s appearance indifferently, right in front of him. But for some reason, he didn’t want to.
Why?
Do Yi-hyun stared at the smile as radiant as the sunlight and tried to find a justifiable reason for the sudden impulse.
Is it because I met Lee Tae-joon earlier?
Lee Tae-joon had bothered Do Yi-hyun more frequently when he first joined the company. After satisfying his curiosity to some extent, he only spoke to him occasionally, like recently. Seo Jeong-woon was interested in him because he was different from others.
But if he were to praise Seo Jeong-woon’s appearance here…
I’d be just like everyone else.
He wouldn’t be much different from the company employees huddled together, praising Seo Jeong-woon’s beautiful appearance.
That would be troublesome.
Do Yi-hyun had a duty to maintain Seo Jeong-woon’s interest for as long as possible. For the baby’s sake, that was the best course of action.
“…You’re like a sparkling lump.”
So, Do Yi-hyun brushed it off vaguely.
“What did you say?”
Seo Jeong-woon’s mouth fell open at the completely unexpected answer. He usually smiled brightly and teased playfully, but he seemed genuinely surprised.
“A sparkling lump? Is that a compliment? Are you insulting me right now?”
Seo Jeong-woon questioned Do Yi-hyun in a very aggrieved tone.
“I’m not sure.”
Do Yi-hyun cleared his throat and turned his head away. This wasn’t a lie either, but he felt oddly guilty.
“That’s ridiculous…”
Seo Jeong-woon muttered softly before lying down and resting his head on Do Yi-hyun’s stomach.
“Baby, don’t misunderstand just because of what Dad said. Mom is the prettiest in the world. Got it? Dad comes next.”
Seo Jeong-woon whined to the baby in a sulky tone. Do Yi-hyun looked down at him awkwardly. He had expected Seo Jeong-woon to respond confidently no matter what he said, but Seo Jeong-woon seemed quite deflated.
Somehow, he looked pitiful.
“…Would you like to have dinner together tonight?”
Do Yi-hyun, who had been gazing at Seo Jeong-woon’s faintly visible face through his neatly combed hair, impulsively spoke up. The contract stipulated two meals a day together. Seo Jeong-woon hadn’t eaten yet, but since Do Yi-hyun had eaten one meal in his car this morning, technically, tonight was Do Yi-hyun’s free time.
Seo Jeong-woon seemed to know this too, as he had subtly probed during lunch, asking if there was anything Do Yi-hyun wanted for dinner. Do Yi-hyun had naturally pretended not to hear. But who would have thought he’d end up inviting Seo Jeong-woon to dinner himself?
He knew it hadn’t even been a day since he decided to distance himself from Seo Jeong-woon, but strangely, he couldn’t just leave him be.
“Huh?”
Seo Jeong-woon’s eyes widened as he lifted his head. He seemed to doubt whether he had heard correctly.
“If you’re busy, maybe next time…”
“No, not at all. I’m not busy. Let’s eat together.”
As Do Yi-hyun tried to retract the offer, Seo Jeong-woon hastily shook his head. He tightly gripped Do Yi-hyun’s forearm and shoulder, as if afraid he might suddenly leave.
“Understood, so please let go of my arm. I need to go now.”
Do Yi-hyun twisted his arm and pursed his lips tightly. It felt strange because Seo Jeong-woon seemed genuinely happy.
“So soon? Can’t you stay just five more minutes?”
Seo Jeong-woon pressed his forehead against Do Yi-hyun’s collarbone with a regretful expression.
Is the baby he hasn’t even seen that precious?
Do Yi-hyun awkwardly glanced at his wristwatch.
“…I can stay one more minute.”
“Even one minute is good.”
Seo Jeong-woon smiled brightly and hugged Do Yi-hyun’s waist.
Why does my chest ache?
Do Yi-hyun frowned. It felt as if something he had eaten suddenly disagreed with him, tightening around his chest.
***
“Um, Team leader.”
Around quitting time, Kim Yu-min crept over to Do Yi-hyun’s desk and called out softly.
“What is it?”
Do Yi-hyun asked indifferently, keeping his eyes fixed on the monitor. He needed to finish this document within five minutes if he didn’t want to keep Seo Jeong-woon waiting.
“Do you have dinner plans with Executive Director Seo?”
“How did you know that?”
Do Yi-hyun looked up in surprise. But Kim Yu-min wasn’t looking at Do Yi-hyun but somewhere else. So, when Do Yi-hyun turned his head, he saw a tall man standing at the office entrance.
Somehow, it felt like déjà vu.
“Ah, sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
The man, who smiled brightly, strode over. Now, Do Yi-hyun could recognize him just by his voice. It was Seo Jeong-woon.
Did he change clothes?
Do Yi-hyun looked him up and down. Seo Jeong-woon was dressed completely differently from what he had seen in the morning. He wore a classic black suit.
Seo Jeong-woon’s handsome appearance and the dignified suit surprisingly suited him well. He had even styled his hair neatly, sweeping it back to reveal his forehead.
Anyone would think he’s going on a date.
Do Yi-hyun shook his head. After finishing his preparations to leave work, he quietly followed Seo Jeong-woon, who was waiting obediently.
“Are you very hungry?”
While waiting for the elevator to arrive, Seo Jeong-woon subtly leaned his shoulder against Do Yi-hyun’s and asked quietly. His tone seemed to imply he hoped Do Yi-hyun wasn’t hungry, just like when they arrived at Seo Jeong-woon’s house yesterday.
What is he plotting now?
Do Yi-hyun raised an eyebrow and looked sideways. Other employees were standing a few steps away. No matter how willful Seo Jeong-woon was, he wouldn’t be able to kiss him arbitrarily in front of others like last night.
“No, not really.”
Do Yi-hyun shook his head. The sudden question and his appearance, dressed up as flamboyantly as a male peacock, were suspicious, but he didn’t feel like lying unnecessarily.
“Then, shall we grab a snack at a café before going?”
As soon as the short answer ended, Seo Jeong-woon smiled slyly. He seemed ready to make all sorts of excuses to take Do Yi-hyun along even if he refused.
…Really?
Do Yi-hyun gave him a skeptical look, scanning him up and down. Until now, Seo Jeong-woon had acted as if it were a big deal if Do Yi-hyun didn’t eat his meals on time. For such a person to suddenly suggest delaying dinner and having a snack first felt unfamiliar.
“Do as you please.”
After a moment of thought, Do Yi-hyun nodded slightly. Since the weather was chilly, a warm cup of tea seemed fine.
“Let’s walk. It’s close by.”
Seo Jeong-woon guided Do Yi-hyun to the corner of the elevator and pressed the button for the first floor. It seemed he had already decided which café to go to.
Good thing I didn’t refuse.
He almost ended up wrestling with Seo Jeong-woon in the office. Perhaps Seo Jeong-woon had asked now because he knew Do Yi-hyun wouldn’t easily refuse.
“We can go that way.”
As they stepped out of the lobby, Seo Jeong-woon lightly grabbed Do Yi-hyun’s forearm and curled his lips upward. Since they were near the company and he couldn’t hug his waist, it seemed he wanted to at least hold his arm. Do Yi-hyun shook his arm lightly to brush off Seo Jeong-woon’s hand and followed him without much thought.
Every passerby they encountered stared at them intently. Most of the gazes were filled with admiration and envy directed at Seo Jeong-woon.
Is that why he changed clothes?
Do Yi-hyun roughly understood why Seo Jeong-woon had gone through the trouble of changing. It seemed he was quite upset that attention had been diverted from him this morning.
“We’re almost there.”
After walking for just a few minutes, Seo Jeong-woon whispered softly as if sharing a secret. At the same time, he grabbed Do Yi-hyun’s elbow again. In that short distance, Do Yi-hyun had already shaken him off at least three times, but Seo Jeong-woon was persistent.
“Understood.”
Do Yi-hyun nodded and persistently avoided Seo Jeong-woon’s hand. He thought he heard a faint sigh from above, but the surrounding noise was too loud to be sure.
“Go in first.”
Upon reaching their destination, Seo Jeong-woon held open the large glass door. Do Yi-hyun unconsciously glanced through the transparent window into the café’s interior. But he felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
This place…
It was clearly the café he had visited with Choi Seon-woo.
Did he bring me here knowingly?
Do Yi-hyun frowned and looked at Seo Jeong-woon. There were more than one or two cafés around the company, so it wasn’t particularly strange to coincidentally visit the same café twice in a row. However, considering how particularly sensitive Seo Jeong-woon had been about rumors related to Choi Seon-woo, it was highly likely he had brought him here intentionally.
“What’s wrong, Lee Hyun?”
Seo Jeong-woon tilted his head with an indifferent expression. He knew exactly why Do Yi-hyun had hesitated, yet he acted shamelessly.
“…It’s nothing.”
Do Yi-hyun swallowed a sigh and stepped into the café. He didn’t know what Seo Jeong-woon was scheming, but worrying about it in advance would be pointless.
“Welcome.”
As the two entered, a young-looking café employee greeted them brightly. Last time, the smell of coffee beans had been unbearable, but now, with Seo Jeong-woon beside him, it felt rich and fragrant. After roughly deciding on his order, Do Yi-hyun sat down first to wait.
He looked out the window and repeatedly stroked his lower abdomen with his palm.
“Is something uncomfortable?”
Noticing this, Seo Jeong-woon reacted sensitively. Do Yi-hyun quietly looked down at his stomach. Just before lunchtime and around quitting time, his lower abdomen had throbbed slightly.
But it wasn’t severely painful, and now it felt fine again.
“It’s fine.”
Do Yi-hyun turned his gaze away indifferently. Since he was responding well to Seo Jeong-woon’s pheromones, it was probably nothing. He had a regular check-up soon, so he could subtly ask about it then.
“If something hurts, you have to tell me right away.”
Seo Jeong-woon lowered his voice and emphasized. It was a nagging reminder he repeated whenever he thought Do Yi-hyun might forget. Sometimes, Seo Jeong-woon acted more sensitively than the doctor who had seen Do Yi-hyun for over ten years.
“Understood.”
Do Yi-hyun nodded casually.
“Don’t forget your promise.”
Seo Jeong-woon emphasized once more before getting up from his seat to get the menu.
“What is all this?”
Clearly, Do Yi-hyun had only chosen one warm citron tea, but the tray was overflowing with all sorts of snacks, from cake to macarons.
“You said you wanted a snack. Don’t push yourself, just eat as much as you want. I heard this place is famous among the employees for its desserts.”
“Oh my, Executive Director Seo!”
As soon as Seo Jeong-woon finished speaking, an overly excited voice was heard.
“Executive Director Seo? Where is he?”
And it wasn’t just one person. A woman with a bright smile and a man looking around here and there came into view.
‘This is getting bothersome.’
Do Yi-hyun tightly pursed his lips, holding the thick glass cup in his hand.
“Manager Kim, how have you been?”
“Oh, thanks to you, Executive Director, I’ve been well. How come it’s so hard to see your face even though we’re in the same company?”
“Right, tell me about it.”
Perhaps because they were quite familiar, Seo Jeong-woon exchanged warm greetings with the woman. As a manager, she should have at least some acquaintance with Do Yi-hyun, but he couldn’t recognize who she was.
“Oh, right. This is the new employee on our team. He’s a bit shy, but he’s diligent and works well, so I’ve been favoring him lately.”
Manager Kim introduced the man, who was frozen without even making a sound, by patting his back.
“Ah, hello, Executive Director. I’m……”
The man bowed deeply, trembling. At first glance, he seemed nervous in front of a superior, but his flushed cheeks and furtive glances clearly indicated a significant interest in Seo Jeong-woon.
‘Omega pheromones……’
Do Yi-hyun slightly furrowed his brow. Although faint, omega pheromones were seeping from the man. With pale skin, a slender frame, and soft, delicate features, he had an appearance that stimulated protective instincts.
“Nice to meet you. But what should I do? I’m on a date right now.”
Seo Jeong-woon pretended to be troubled, lowering his eyebrows and gesturing with his eyes toward Do Yi-hyun sitting across from him.
‘What date?’
Do Yi-hyun felt a strong urge to object, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud.
“A date?”
Only then did the two turn their attention to Do Yi-hyun. Do Yi-hyun bowed his head politely.
“Ah, Team Leader Do is here too? I almost didn’t recognize you because of your hair. Did you both decide to change your styles?”
Manager Kim, perhaps embarrassed for not recognizing Do Yi-hyun, waved her hands. Then, with a pleased expression, she looked back and forth between Seo Jeong-woon and Do Yi-hyun.
“It’s nice to see good-looking people together.”
Even though Seo Jeong-woon had said it as a joke, upon hearing the word “date,” Manager Kim didn’t suspect for a moment that Do Yi-hyun might be an Omega.
“You both look really cool.”
“Thank you.”
Seo Jeong-woon responded humbly yet confidently to the man’s shy compliment. Do Yi-hyun sipped his tea, keeping his gaze lowered.
“Executive Director, you’ve never experienced something like a one-sided crush, have you?”
Manager Kim playfully glanced at Seo Jeong-woon.
“I have.”
But Seo Jeong-woon tilted his head and calmly blurted out.
“You, Executive Director?”
The man’s eyes widened in surprise. Do Yi-hyun was also quite taken aback.
“I’m experiencing one right now. No matter how much I cling to him, Team Leader Do doesn’t pay me any attention, so it’s frustrating.”
Seo Jeong-woon rested his chin on the back of his hand and let out an exaggerated sigh. He looked quite pitiful.
‘Unbelievable.’
At the disgusting act, Do Yi-hyun twisted his eyebrows. Dates, one-sided crushes—he couldn’t understand the intention behind spouting such nonsense in front of company people.
“Ah, that makes sense. Team Leader Do’s iron wall is famous. I didn’t think even Executive Director Seo wouldn’t be able to break through it.”
“I haven’t given up yet.”
“Hahaha, I’ll cheer for you.”
For some reason, Manager Kim and Seo Jeong-woon chatted amiably, finding it all very amusing. Despite being the topic, Do Yi-hyun, who had no interest in the chatter, didn’t add a single word. Meanwhile, the man fidgeted, trying to find another opportunity to speak to Seo Jeong-woon.
‘……Annoying.’
He hadn’t obediently come to the cafe just to listen to this nonsense. Do Yi-hyun suddenly felt irritation rising. Perhaps because of his mood, his stomach even seemed to ache slightly again.
Seo Jeong-woon’s hazel-brown eyes turned toward Do Yi-hyun.
“Oh my, we’re interrupting your date. We, the interrupters, should get going to work overtime now. Enjoy your meal.”
After checking the time, Manager Kim was startled and hurriedly left her seat. The man followed Manager Kim but kept looking back with a regretful expression.
“Does it not suit your taste?”
Seeing Do Yi-hyun picking at the cake without really eating, Seo Jeong-woon asked worriedly.
“It tastes good, but I can’t really eat it.”
Do Yi-hyun answered honestly. No matter how important it was to eat when he could, forcing himself now seemed like it would cause trouble.
“Will you be able to eat dinner?”
Seo Jeong-woon asked slowly, carefully observing Do Yi-hyun’s pale face. Somehow, it seemed like if he shook his head, Seo Jeong-woon would obediently send him home.
“…Yes.”
But Do Yi-hyun couldn’t bring himself to say no. The image of Seo Jeong-woon looking happy when he suggested dinner kept coming to mind.
“Tell me right away if it’s too much.”
“……”
At Seo Jeong-woon’s gentle smile, Do Yi-hyun couldn’t say anything. He had assumed they would go to Seo Jeong-woon’s house, but instead, Seo Jeong-woon took him to a restaurant with a view of the Han River. Located on the upper floor of a hotel, the restaurant had two sides covered with large glass windows, offering a great view.
As if he had made a reservation in advance, when Seo Jeong-woon gave his name, they were guided to a private room.
‘I thought it was just a casual dinner.’
Everything felt too formal, making him uneasy.
“It’s a date.”
Seo Jeong-woon pulled out Do Yi-hyun’s chair and smiled faintly. Even though Do Yi-hyun hadn’t said a word, he seemed to have guessed what he was thinking.
“Lee Hyun, you said you don’t have any dislikes, right?”
“Yes.”
“That’s good.”
After personally serving the meal and fully understanding Do Yi-hyun’s eating habits, Seo Jeong-woon pretended innocence. Sure enough, the course dishes that started coming out one by one were quite delicious, even to Do Yi-hyun, who ate anything well. Occasionally, seeing that Seo Jeong-woon’s food and his own were different, it seemed like Seo Jeong-woon had placed separate orders.
“Lee Hyun likes potatoes.”
Seo Jeong-woon blurted out while cutting his steak.
“What do you mean by that all of a sudden?”
At the out-of-context remark, Do Yi-hyun furrowed his brow. He didn’t particularly like potatoes.
“You said Lee Hyun eats anything well.”
“Yes.”
“But that doesn’t mean you like everything. From what I’ve seen, Lee Hyun likes potatoes.”
Seo Jeong-woon, having put down his knife, declared firmly. His expression was quite serious. Do Yi-hyun looked down at his own plate in bewilderment.
Now he noticed that his steak came with mashed potatoes as a garnish.
“When you eat something you like, you slightly furrow your left eyebrow here. At first, I thought you disliked it, but you kept eating it.”
Seo Jeong-woon tapped near his left eyebrow with his finger and let out a clear laugh.
“But you don’t really like fried ones, do you?”
“……”
Do Yi-hyun tried to recall, but nothing specific came to mind.
“In short, I know Lee Hyun better than Lee Hyun knows himself.”
Seo Jeong-woon playfully lifted his chin and boasted. He looked quite pleased.
“Eat quickly before it gets cold. Let me know if you want more potatoes.”
Seeing Do Yi-hyun stiffen, Seo Jeong-woon wrinkled his nose.
‘……It keeps bothering me.’
But Do Yi-hyun couldn’t continue the meal as comfortably as before. Unconsciously, he paused every time his hand reached for the potatoes. Yet, deliberately avoiding them also felt awkward.
Watching this, Seo Jeong-woon’s beaming smile also felt strangely irritating. Fumbling continuously, Do Yi-hyun finished his meal slower than usual.
“Lee Hyun, do you know how dates usually end?”
Seo Jeong-woon, standing up from his seat, approached Do Yi-hyun with a bright smile.
“I don’t know.”
“I booked a room downstairs. Want to stay over?”
Seo Jeong-woon whispered softly into Do Yi-hyun’s ear. His voice, mixed with more air than usual, was ticklish. Do Yi-hyun stared blankly at Seo Jeong-woon, who was smiling brightly without any reaction.
He couldn’t tell if it was a joke or serious.
“If you don’t want to, that’s fine.”
Then, Seo Jeong-woon grinned and shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t seem disappointed at all even if Do Yi-hyun refused.
‘So it was a joke.’
Do Yi-hyun turned his back to Seo Jeong-woon and straightened his clothes. Well, after causing such a fuss yesterday, it was unlikely he’d make a move again so soon. Seo Jeong-woon cleanly sent Do Yi-hyun off.
He didn’t even kiss him separately. Do Yi-hyun, lightly gripping the steering wheel, brushed the back of his neck. This was the normal distance, but perhaps because Seo Jeong-woon had been so aggressively forward until now, he felt somewhat empty.
***
“You put your hair back up again?”
The next day, when Do Yi-hyun came to work as usual, his team members expressed great disappointment.
“You looked softer with it down, which was nice……”
“Ah, Ji-eun, I guess you don’t like Team Leader Do’s usual style?”
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
Do Yi-hyun focused on his work indifferently, but the team members playfully chattered about his changed style.
“I like it much better now. I don’t like the ‘everyone’s Team Leader Do.'”
Even Kim Yu-min joined in, grumbling.
“That’s true.”
The team members, giggling softly, hurried back to their seats before Do Yi-hyun could glare at them sharply.
“You put your hair up nicely.”
Even Seo Jeong-woon, whom he met during lunch, mentioned Do Yi-hyun’s hair. He was wearing a deep brown suit with a strong classic vibe, just like last night.
“Keep wearing it up from now on.”
“I’ll decide that for myself.”
“You never listen.”
At Seo Jeong-woon’s complaint, Do Yi-hyun twitched his eyebrows. That was what he wanted to say.
“It’s today, right?”
Seo Jeong-woon, while placing side dishes on Do Yi-hyun’s spoon, pouted his lips. He was clearly asking about the appointment with Choi Seon-woo.
“Yes.”
“Are you going to have dinner together too?”
“I don’t know.”
Do Yi-hyun replied bluntly and put the spoon in his mouth. They weren’t close enough to ask whether he would eat dinner and come back or not.
“That’s too harsh.”
Seo Jeong-woon kept muttering incessantly, but perhaps because they had dinner together last night, he didn’t raise any major objections.
***
Choi Seon-woo was waiting for Do Yi-hyun at the same cafe as before. Perhaps because he had visited it with Seo Jeong-woon yesterday, from the moment he left the company, Seo Jeong-woon’s radiant smile kept flickering in his mind.
[Choi Seon-woo: I’m at the first table by the window! Be careful and come slowly!]
Do Yi-hyun glanced at his phone and scanned the window.
Fortunately, there was only one table where a young man was sitting alone. As he approached, the man, who had been bowing his head and holding his phone, startled and looked up.
“Gasp, Hyung Lee Hyun. You’re here.”
Choi Seon-woo jumped up and greeted him shyly.
“What’s the matter?”
“I wanted to give you this!”
Choi Seon-woo suddenly held out the paper bag he had placed on the seat next to him.
“It’s a baby gift……”
He hunched his shoulders and watched Do Yi-hyun’s reaction.
‘Where would a college student have money?’
Do Yi-hyun looked at Choi Seon-woo with an indifferent expression.
“That’s not necessary.”
“…Actually, the gift is just an excuse. I came because I wanted to see you, Hyung.”
Choi Seon-woo, deflated by the blunt attitude, fidgeted with his fingers and mumbled.
“……”
Do Yi-hyun quietly closed his mouth. Until now, Choi Seon-woo had shown his liking for Do Yi-hyun with his whole body, but he only hovered around nervously, unable to properly speak to him. This was the first time Choi Seon-woo had been so honest about his feelings.
“If you’re not uncomfortable, Hyung, can I come to meet you like this sometimes? I don’t really expect much, just having dinner together……”
“Ah, Lee Hyun?”
As Choi Seon-woo fretted with a distressed expression, someone suddenly approached from behind Do Yi-hyun.
‘……Executive Director Seo?’
Lee Hyun. At the now-familiar address, Do Yi-hyun looked up in bewilderment. The man was looking only at Do Yi-hyun, as if he didn’t even notice Choi Seon-woo sitting across from him.
When their eyes met, the man smiled softly and placed his hand on Do Yi-hyun’s shoulder. The striking features, ticklish smile, and affectionate voice. Do Yi-hyun recognized at a glance that the man was Seo Jeong-woon.
‘Did he follow me?’
Otherwise, there was no way Seo Jeong-woon would be here at this time. Or perhaps he had guessed that Do Yi-hyun would meet Choi Seon-woon at the same place as last time. Either way, it was clear he had come intentionally to interfere.
No wonder he had grumbled but obediently sent him off—it seemed Seo Jeong-woon had planned this from the start. Even yesterday, suddenly taking him to a cafe for snacks now seemed suspicious for no reason. Do Yi-hyun slightly furrowed his brow.
The most unsettling thing was that he himself wasn’t very surprised by Seo Jeong-woon’s sudden appearance. Regardless of how absurd it was, because it was Seo Jeong-woon, he had come to expect anything. Pressing the corners of his eyes with his fingertips, he glanced forward.
Choi Seon-woo was looking back and forth between him and Seo Jeong-woon with a slightly flustered expression. Considering Choi Seon-woo’s usual attitude, it was a calmer reaction than expected.
“What brings you here?”
Do Yi-hyun indirectly rebuked Seo Jeong-woon.
“I came to the cafe for coffee. Lucky me. Running into Lee Hyun here.”
Seo Jeong-woon, fully aware that Do Yi-hyun wasn’t welcoming him, softly curled up the corners of his distinct lips. But somehow, it felt different from usual. Perhaps because of his well-dressed appearance, he exuded a serious and elegant atmosphere rather than just being radiant.
“Yes.”
Do Yi-hyun nodded indifferently, meaning for him to wrap it up and leave quickly. But Seo Jeong-woon tightened his grip on Do Yi-hyun’s shoulder.
He showed no sign of backing down easily.
‘Hoo.’
Do Yi-hyun sighed inwardly. Things had become troublesome.
“Excuse me, but who are you?”
After assessing the situation briefly, Choi Seon-woo, seeing that Do Yi-hyun didn’t seem pleased with Seo Jeong-woon, showed an unpleasant expression. Although Choi Seon-woo had always worn a friendly, easygoing smile in front of Do Yi-hyun, now, as an Alpha, his serious expression was quite intimidating.
‘Unexpected.’
Do Yi-hyun had a brief thought. Other Alphas often felt intimidated just being in the same space as Seo Jeong-woon, the epitome of an Alpha. But the young Choi Seon-woo held his neck stiffly upright.
Even though it was evident he was struggling not to be overwhelmed, he was quite impressive.
“I’m Seo Jeong-woon. Lee Hyun and I have a special relationship.”
Only then did Seo Jeong-woon show interest in Choi Seon-woo, leaning slightly toward Do Yi-hyun.
‘What special relationship?’
A retort rose in his throat, but Do Yi-hyun forced it down. Even if he denied it here, it wouldn’t make a dent with Seo Jeong-woon. Since they were near the company, he couldn’t risk running into other employees and causing a scene.
‘I should never come to this cafe again.’
Do Yi-hyun glanced at the dark outside window. In his heart, he wanted to leave both of them behind and go back.
“Nice to meet you.”
Far from leaving, Seo Jeong-woon even offered to shake hands with Choi Seon-woo.
“I’m Choi Seon-woo.”
Choi Seon-woo solemnly shook Seo Jeong-woon’s hand. In his mind, there was only the thought that he had to protect his hyung from this mysterious Alpha who had suddenly appeared. Hyung might not have seen it, but in that short time, Seo Jeong-woon had scrutinized Choi Seon-woo persistently.
It wasn’t rude, but it wasn’t a friendly gaze either. For some reason, Seo Jeong-woon was undoubtedly conscious of him. The grip of the handshake was unusual, but Choi Seon-woo didn’t show it outwardly.
Seo Jeong-woon smiled brightly. It was a smile so perfect it felt unnatural. Compared to his radiant features, his eyes were cool.
“Are you… Lee Hyun’s friend?”
But Choi Seon-woo’s determination to protect Do Yi-hyun wavered at Seo Jeong-woon’s following question. Seo Jeong-woon deliberately drew out the end of his sentence and tilted his head.
“Ah, I’m Hyung Lee Hyun’s, well, uh……”
Choi Seon-woo hesitated, glancing at Do Yi-hyun’s impassive expression. He didn’t know how to introduce himself to Seo Jeong-woon. Although Do Yi-hyun had never said it out loud, Choi Seon-woo knew well that he didn’t consider him a younger brother.
That’s why, even though he was desperate to get closer to Do Yi-hyun, he couldn’t boldly approach him for fear of upsetting him. But he also didn’t want to say he was just a younger acquaintance. Suddenly feeling wronged, Choi Seon-woo drooped his eyebrows.
‘This is getting bothersome.’
Do Yi-hyun pressed his lips into a thin line. He, too, was unsure how to refer to Choi Seon-woo. Choi Seon-woo looked at Do Yi-hyun with a pitiful expression, like a drenched puppy.
He looked as if he might burst into tears at the slightest poke.
“Hmm?”
As the awkward silence dragged on, Seo Jeong-woon narrowed his eyes. His tone remained gentle, but a hint of displeasure subtly seeped through. Seo Jeong-woon had been known to get quite sulky over mere rumors.
Seeing Do Yi-hyun unable to easily define his relationship with Choi Seon-woo, there was a high chance he’d jump to strange conclusions again. While not particularly inclined to do so, forcing a clear explanation now would likely be more convenient.
“…Someone like a brother.”
Do Yi-hyun spat out the words with an indifferent face. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t entirely wrong.
“Hyung…”
Even though Do Yi-hyun hadn’t explicitly stated they were brothers, Choi Seon-woo made a moved expression. Do Yi-hyun subtly averted his gaze. The goodwill Choi Seon-woo occasionally showed was a bit burdensome.
“A brother-like relationship?”
On the other hand, Seo Jeong-woon asked back with a dubious tone, scrutinizing Choi Seon-woo closely.
“Vice President, why don’t you give us some space now.”
Do Yi-hyun flicked Seo Jeong-woon’s arm off his shoulder. Choi Seon-woo was startled once by Do Yi-hyun’s cold tone, and twice by the title ‘Vice President’.
“Speaking so coldly hurts my feelings.”
In contrast, Seo Jeong-woon smiled amiably even at the sharp words. Then, without asking for permission, he promptly sat down in the seat next to Do Yi-hyun.
“Get along well. If he’s Lee Hyun’s younger brother, he’s practically my younger brother too.”
“Haa.”
Do Yi-hyun let out an irritated sigh but left Seo Jeong-woon as he was. Instead of apologizing, he gave a slight nod towards Choi Seon-woo.
“Lee Hyun, wait a moment. There’s some dust.”
Seo Jeong-woon lightly fiddled with Do Yi-hyun’s clean earlobe. Do Yi-hyun twitched his eyebrows but remained still. He looked oddly accustomed to the skinship.
“Uh…”
At the sight, Choi Seon-woo’s eyes widened. It had been about a year since he’d known Do Yi-hyun, but this was the first time he’d seen him allow someone other than his mother to get so close. It didn’t look like a simple superior-subordinate relationship at all.
It seemed the word ‘special’ wasn’t a complete lie.
“Okay, that’s done.”
Only after playfully tapping Do Yi-hyun’s earlobe a few times did Seo Jeong-woon withdraw his hand. Seo Jeong-woon, wearing a faint smile, glanced at Choi Seon-woo. Instinctively sensing that Seo Jeong-woon was checking him, Choi Seon-woo blinked blankly.
Meanwhile, Seo Jeong-woon had half-turned his body to look only at Do Yi-hyun. In that fleeting moment, Choi Seon-woo caught Seo Jeong-woon’s gaze naturally drifting towards Do Yi-hyun’s stomach. No way.
Choi Seon-woo, moving his lips soundlessly, looked back and forth between Seo Jeong-woon and Do Yi-hyun. The two tall, handsome men sitting side by side looked perfectly matched, like a painting. Above all, Do Yi-hyun looked comfortable.
Just moments ago, his nervousness had been obvious, but with Seo Jeong-woon’s appearance, he had noticeably relaxed. It was a very subtle change, but Choi Seon-woo, who had been diligently observing to get closer to Do Yi-hyun, could easily notice it.
“This is fate too, so let’s get along.”
“Yes, understood.”
Choi Seon-woo readily accepted Seo Jeong-woon’s polite gesture. Although he hadn’t completely lowered his guard, his goodwill was clearly apparent. At Choi Seon-woo’s 180-degree attitude shift in the blink of an eye, Seo Jeong-woon slowly tilted his head.
“If you haven’t had dinner, would you like to go together?”
Choi Seon-woo subtly tested Seo Jeong-woon. Of course, he wouldn’t have a role to play, but he wanted to learn more about what kind of Alpha Seo Jeong-woon was.
“What?”
Do Yi-hyun twisted his lips as if he couldn’t understand. He looked like he might storm off at any moment.
“Well…”
Choi Seon-woo hurriedly pursed his lips. It was a moment of regret, wondering if he’d done something unnecessary.
“Shall we? Let’s go together, Lee Hyun.”
Seo Jeong-woon smiled cutely and grabbed Do Yi-hyun’s elbow. The atmosphere was completely different from the smile he’d shown Choi Seon-woo.
“There’s no reason for the three of us to have dinner together…”
“You don’t want me tagging along?”
Seo Jeong-woon cut off Do Yi-hyun’s words and lowered his eyes desolately.
“…”
Do Yi-hyun irritably rubbed the corner of his mouth. It was a silent consent.
***
After having dinner with the two of them, Choi Seon-woo was convinced of two things.
One, Seo Jeong-woon knew Hyung was pregnant. Two, Seo Jeong-woon held feelings beyond mere liking for Hyung. No wonder, as honey practically dripped from Seo Jeong-woon’s eyes when he looked at Hyung.
At first, he seemed to hide it, but after moving to the restaurant, he made it blatantly obvious. Even while talking to Choi Seon-woo, if he sensed Hyung needed something, he’d take care of it first. It seemed he poured all his attention into Hyung’s every move.
That wasn’t all. Whenever Choi Seon-woo asked Do Yi-hyun something, Seo Jeong-woon naturally interjected and stole the answer. In the midst of conversation, he hadn’t noticed, but looking back, he’d barely been able to talk with Hyung.
Yet, he didn’t feel particularly bad. In contrast, Do Yi-hyun was utterly indifferent to whatever Seo Jeong-woon did. No matter what Seo Jeong-woon did, he’d only briefly frown and then leave him be.
For Do Yi-hyun, who had clear likes and dislikes, the fact that he tolerated it was encouraging in itself. He called him Vice President… maybe they’re secretly dating due to circumstances? Or perhaps the baby’s father is someone else, and he fell for Hyung later?
Curiosity sprouted so vigorously that a makjang drama unfolded in his mind, but Choi Seon-woo didn’t show a hint of it.
“Take a taxi. Consider the rest pocket money.”
Seo Jeong-woon intercepted Do Yi-hyun, who was about to drive Choi Seon-woo home, and handed over four 50,000-won bills.
“Thank you, Hyungnim.”
Choi Seon-woo cheerfully and smoothly accepted it with a bright smile. Do Yi-hyun was swept up in a strange feeling watching the two smile at each other. They looked more familiar than Choi Seon-woo, whom he’d known for nearly a year, and Seo Jeong-woon, whom he’d met just a day ago.
To an outsider, they might seem like Seo Jeong-woon’s younger brother.
“I’ll be going now. Take care, Hyungnim. I’ll come visit again, Hyung.”
Choi Seon-woo bowed his head and subtly hinted at his desire to see Do Yi-hyun again. Seo Jeong-woon, who had been lightly waving goodbye, pulled Do Yi-hyun into a hug around the waist the moment Choi Seon-woo disappeared.
“Finally, the third wheel is gone.”
Seo Jeong-woon smiled playfully, his eyes sparkling.
“Why did you do something so unnecessary?”
“Are you going to keep meeting him?”
Do Yi-hyun scolded, but Seo Jeong-woon pretended not to hear and narrowed his eyes. He thought Seo Jeong-woon liked Choi Seon-woo since they had a pleasant conversation, but Seo Jeong-woon’s eyes clearly showed dissatisfaction.
“…He’s a stepbrother.”
Do Yi-hyun, who had been staring intently into Seo Jeong-woon’s glossy hazel eyes, blurted out impulsively.
“Huh?”
“A stepbrother from my mother’s remarriage.”
He hadn’t planned to reveal his family situation to Seo Jeong-woon, but for some reason, he couldn’t stop his mouth from moving on its own.
“Is that so? Then it’s all true—that you’re not close, and that it’s a brother-like relationship.”
Seo Jeong-woon gave a small laugh. Even though it was a topic that could have been heavy, the atmosphere lightened with just one pale smile.
“There’s no reason to lie.”
Do Yi-hyun slowly turned his head. Perhaps it was because Seo Jeong-woon reacted calmly. Now that he’d said it, it didn’t feel like a big deal.
“But you still can’t meet him alone.”
Seo Jeong-woon leaned his head lightly against Do Yi-hyun and grumbled. Whether he wasn’t interested or was being considerate, Seo Jeong-woon didn’t ask further.
“Lee Hyun, are you going straight home?”
Seo Jeong-woon asked brightly. Like last night, his tone implied he’d send Do Yi-hyun off right away if he said he was going.
“…What should I do?”
Do Yi-hyun, who was about to nod reflexively, asked ambiguously instead. Suddenly, the emptiness he’d felt returning home yesterday came to mind.
“Are you giving me a choice now? Or are you teasing me?”
Seo Jeong-woon lowered his head to look at Do Yi-hyun. His expression was full of suspicion.
“Who knows.”
Do Yi-hyun replied bluntly. He himself didn’t know the intention behind asking such a question. He was just curious about what Seo Jeong-woon might be thinking.
“Stay at my place.”
Seo Jeong-woon whispered softly into Do Yi-hyun’s ear. His voice was as sweet as cotton candy, enough to make one’s neck shrink. It tickled not just his ears but his palms too.
“…”
At his bold request, Do Yi-hyun was left speechless. He had only thought about briefly stopping by Seo Jeong-woon’s place at most, but this was a step further.
“See. You’re going to be like this.”
At Do Yi-hyun’s lukewarm reaction, Seo Jeong-woon gave a coquettish sidelong glance as if he’d expected it.
“If you’re not going to listen to me, don’t ask. You know giving and taking away is the worst thing in the world, right? You’ll just get your hopes up and be disappointed.”
In a fit of pique, Seo Jeong-woon gently pressed his thumb against Do Yi-hyun’s firm cheek. Then he wrinkled his nose as if Do Yi-hyun was annoying.
‘Get his hopes up?’
Do Yi-hyun slightly lifted his chin to look straight at Seo Jeong-woon. What exactly was he hoping for? Spending time with the baby in his belly?
Playing with him as he pleased? Or perhaps…
“Alright.”
Do Yi-hyun shook off the chain of trivial thoughts and slowly nodded.
“Wow, you’re really too much. How can you agree so readily like that?”
“I’ll stay over.”
Perhaps misunderstanding something, Seo Jeong-woon slumped his shoulders and sighed. Do Yi-hyun lowered his gaze and clearly conveyed his intention.
‘Because my stomach hurt.’
Just like yesterday, his stomach had been tingling intermittently while working today. Just in case, it seemed better to receive more of Seo Jeong-woon’s pheromones.
“Hah.”
This time, it seemed Seo Jeong-woon was the one left speechless. Letting out a short sigh, Seo Jeong-woon blankly stared down at Do Yi-hyun’s lips. He seemed displeased that the reaction was lukewarm.
‘Was it a joke after all?’
Did he take a remark thrown out expecting a refusal as a serious offer? Do Yi-hyun faintly distorted his neat eyebrows. He’d done something pointless.
“If you don’t want to…”
Do Yi-hyun tried to retrieve his belatedly spilled words.
“When did I say I didn’t want to? Let’s go quickly. To my place.”
But before Do Yi-hyun could even complete the sentence, Seo Jeong-woon hurriedly shook his head and tightly held his waist. Then, without waiting for an answer, he quickly moved forward. It seemed he thought Do Yi-hyun might change his mind if they delayed even for a moment.
“I’m not running away anywhere.”
Do Yi-hyun carefully nudged Seo Jeong-woon lightly with his elbow. But Seo Jeong-woon clung even tighter to Do Yi-hyun as if it were natural.
“Just try running away. I’ll chase you to the ends of the earth. I’m persistent.”
Seo Jeong-woon bit his lower lip tightly and deliberately put on a stern expression. Do Yi-hyun, who knew well how persistent he was, let out a short, hollow laugh. It seemed Seo Jeong-woon would literally chase him to the ends of the earth.
“Did you just laugh?”
Hearing the deflated laugh, Seo Jeong-woon widened his already large eyes even more and brought his face closer.
“I didn’t laugh.”
Do Yi-hyun, who had quickly returned to an expressionless state, denied coldly. The hollow laugh born from exasperation couldn’t be counted as a real laugh.
“The corner of your mouth lifted slightly?”
“You saw wrong.”
Exchanging words back and forth, the two walked side by side.