DS 110

“Then, Tae-hyun… What about our Tae-hyun? He’s okay, right? He is, isn’t he?”

How could she hate the child of her youngest, who still felt like a baby? Even if half of Seo Baek-han’s blood flowed through it, CEO Yoo, no, the entire family was ready to cherish and love Joo Tae-hyun’s child.

However, that child was never as precious as Joo Tae-hyun. Even if something happened to the baby in the womb, it didn’t matter as long as their youngest was alright. Some might call it cruel, but that was CEO Yoo’s honest feeling.

“Doctor Woo, how are the CA levels changing?”

“Ah, the CA… Thankfully, it’s become a bit more stable. It’s fluctuating between 11 and 26.”

Seo Baek-han wrapped Joo Tae-hyun even tighter. He tilted Joo Tae-hyun’s head back to rest on his shoulder and brought his face close to his pale cheek.

Surprisingly, the downward slope of the graph in the lower section slowly began to stabilize. The graph, which had been fluctuating wildly like a rollercoaster track, was turning into a gentle curve.

“It’s a relief. It seems Young Master’s condition isn’t deteriorating to the worst because he has an imprinting partner.”

Doctor Woo exclaimed in astonishment, and Chairman Joo and CEO Yoo also stared at the screen, momentarily speechless.

“How is it now?”

“Um, about the same. It’s somewhat stable, but it’s not a significant figure.”

They had heard about the imprinting phenomenon, but it hadn’t really resonated with them until now. Just holding him close, like beasts sharing warmth, was instantly healing his frozen body as if he had been doused in holy water from a myth.

Chairman Joo and CEO Yoo, who hadn’t seriously considered the imprinting issue because they were too busy being furious at Seo Baek-han’s way of speaking, swallowed a quiet sigh.

Imprinting was something that far surpassed the realm of mere humans. They now understood what people meant when they talked about fate or the union of souls.

“What about the A-hP and A-hBP levels?”

“…That’s…”

Seo Baek-han nodded briefly as if he understood and readjusted Joo Tae-hyun in his arms.

Come to think of it, why was that bastard suddenly acting like this? CEO Yoo began to scrutinize Seo Baek-han, feeling an inexplicable sense of unease.

Yes, the Seo Baek-han that CEO Yoo remembered was exactly like this. The calmer he became when facing a major event, the colder he felt, so cold that it felt burning hot.

Pressuring Joo Tae-hyun by clinging to the child earlier and desperately begging him to breathe while repeating Joo Tae-hyun’s name was unlike him.

But why did he feel more terrifying now than he did a moment ago when he was flashing his eyes like a madman?

“Doctor, I believe it would be helpful to Tae-hyun if I were also present in the operating room, so please inform the hospital.”

“That shouldn’t be difficult.”

After that, Seo Baek-han remained motionless, burying his nose in Joo Tae-hyun’s shoulder.

CEO Yoo watched the two, who had become as solid as an ancient artifact, with complicated feelings.

Imprinting…

Perhaps this phenomenon was a bigger problem than her youngest’s pregnancy.

“As you observed, the surgery was successful.”

Joo Tae-hyun, who had been transferred to Donghwa Hospital, had to undergo surgery immediately.

Seo Baek-han was also present at the moment of extracting the tiny lump of blood, smaller than a child’s fist. It was to help stabilize Joo Tae-hyun’s pheromones. Chairman Joo and CEO Yoo’s assessment that he was nothing more than a charger for their son was spot on.

They were worried because pheromones couldn’t be emitted at will, but fortunately, Joo Tae-hyun’s body was quickly stabilizing just by having his imprinting partner nearby.

“Um… Director Seo?”

“…Ah, yes.”

As Seo Baek-han stared intently at the handful of blood on the medical tray, the medical staff, who had been hesitating for a moment, carefully offered words of comfort.

So, that was a child.

Joo Tae-hyun had really been carrying his child…

“…We’ve also put in requests to Pyongyang University Hospital and Royal Hospital.”

“Yes? Ah, I see. That’s a relief. They’ll have the patient’s records there, so it’ll be easier to figure things out.”

“That’s also true, and it seems we’ll need a consultation with the trait studies department.”

“That’s right. We’d welcome any help we can get. As you know, there are too few cases in the trait studies field.”

“We’ve arranged for you to contact Doctor Woo directly, so Doctor Woo will issue additional instructions as soon as he finishes his review.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Only then did the medical staff breathe a sigh of relief and lead Seo Baek-han to the VIP suite. It was a spacious hospital room located on the floor directly above the operating room, used exclusively by the DH Group family, separate from the VIP suites found in large hospitals.

No, it would be more accurate to say that it was designed solely for Joo Tae-hyun.

In this suite, there was no trace of consideration for people who couldn’t give up the view outside the window, even in a hospital. The efficient layout, designed to immediately provide expensive equipment, and the extra space being used just as inefficiently were impressive. One could feel the desperate desire for the perfect recovery of the person staying in that room.

“To think that his recovery is so fast just by having his imprinting partner nearby… It’s my first time witnessing it, so I was really surprised.”

“Yes. I was able to recover quickly thanks to Tae-hyun too.”

The medical staff, belatedly recalling that there had been an attack not long ago, glanced conspicuously at Seo Baek-han’s abdomen.

It was because they were in a state of mutual imprinting that he was able to recover so quickly. He had thought it was the last struggle of his Alpha cells, imprinting solely on Joo Tae-hyun, but it wasn’t.

He didn’t realize that being bound together by their traits would be so powerful.

“Director, you look tired too. How about getting an IV drip by his side-.”

“…Ah, no.”

Seo Baek-han clenched and unclenched his fist for no reason, checking his body’s sensations.

What was it? Why had he been feeling an inexplicable sense of unease since earlier? When he had collapsed and was in his arms, he had felt a sense of connection with Joo Tae-hyun, but… he wasn’t sure now that the surgery was over.

…It must be because of the miscarriage.

“Ah, you’ve arrived.”

After passing through a small courtyard-like space at the end of a corridor as long as a cloister, the hospital room where Joo Tae-hyun was staying finally appeared. Chairman Joo, CEO Yoo, and Joo Yoon-woo, who seemed to have rushed over after receiving a call, were pacing anxiously in front of it.

“The surgery went very well, so you can rest assured. However, from now on, the guardian will need to periodically- Huk! C, CEO!”

Slap! The sound of tearing paper echoed through the quiet hallway. Joo Yoon-woo, who had almost flown towards him, slapped Seo Baek-han’s cheek mercilessly.

The medical staff, who had been about to report on Joo Tae-hyun’s progress in a much brighter voice, froze in place with their mouths wide open.

“CEO Joo Yoon-woo, this is in front of the hospital room, so please calm down a bit-.”

The doctor, who had barely regained his senses, cautiously tried to mediate the situation, but that restraint seemed to trigger Joo Yoon-woo even more.

Slap, smack!

The sound of skin tearing echoed loudly through the hallway. The medical staff, startled by Joo Yoon-woo’s visibly overflowing anger, let out a small scream.

“CEO!”

“Seo Baek-han, how dare you, how dare you come here!”